Victim of Kangaroo Island shark attack details terrifying ordeal

A 29-year-old surfer attacked by a great white shark on Kangaroo Island has broken his silence after Sunday’s terrifying ordeal.

Paramedic Michael Rushby was the first on-duty paramedic to treat a 29-year-old shark attack victim on Sunday at Kangaroo Island. Picture: Michael Rushby

A shark attack victim who is lucky to be alive after coming face-to-face with a great white shark tells how being attacked by the predator was like being “hit by a truck”.

On Sunday afternoon at about 1.30pm, a 29-year-old surfer was attacked by a great white shark in waters at remote D’Estrees Bay, around 40 minutes from Kingscote.

The man was able to paddle back to shore before walking 300 metres to find help.

He had serious lacerations to his back, backside and legs, and minor lacerations to his arm from the jaws of the shark.

In a statement released from his hospital bed, the man said being attacked by the shark on his left side “was like being hit by a truck”.

“It bit me around my back, buttock and elbow, and took a chunk out of my board,” the man said.

He added that he “got a glimpse of the shark as it let go and disappeared” before he paddled to the beach still holding his board.

The man expressed gratitude for those that assisted him, especially the “awesome emergency services and medical staff, family and friends”.

“I’m feeling incredibly lucky and grateful and I’m optimistic I’ll make a full recovery,” the surfer added.

Kangaroo Island shark attack victim’s statement.

Rushing to the man’s aid was an off duty paramedic from Mt Gambier, who drove him towards Kingscote.

One of the people he thanked was KI paramedic Michael Rushby, who treated the 29-year-old on the side of the road before transporting him via an ambulance to Kingscote Hospital and via air to Flinders Medical Centre.

Mr Rushby said the extent of the man’s injuries were “serious” and “catastrophic”, and that it was “remarkable” the man was able to swim to shore and walk such a distance to find help.

“With the extent of his injuries, this was quite remarkable and very lucky that he was able to do that” Mr Rushby said.

He said say the man is lucky to be alive and was “very brave considering the serious nature of his injuries”.

“It’s amazing what people can do,” he added.

The man was treated for catastrophic bleeding, trauma and serious lacerations. Paramedics applied pressure dressings and bandages to the wounds on the side of the road.

Police, with fisheries and the local council, erected signs to close D’Estrees Bay beach, and asked members of the public to avoid the area.

A local woman looks over D’Estrees Bay after a surfer was attacked by a shark on Sunday. Picture: Sean McGowan

Mr Rushby said Sunday’s job was the first shark attack treatment of his career, and was handled as a serious trauma case.

“Shark attacks are obviously a rare occurrence … it was definitely a first for me in my career,” he said.

Mr Rushby, a KI local, said the attack was the first in a decade at the beach in his memory.

Mr Rushby added that the man was completely coherent the whole time, maintaining conversations with paramedics while being treated.

He has not spoken to the man since, or received an update on his condition.

“One day it will be good to say hello,” he said.

Senior radio operator and coastguard for Kangaroo Island Carol Miell told The Advertiseron Sunday that D’Estrees Bay was home to schools of sharks, and attractive to surfers but avoided by locals.

“You’re in big boy waters, you’re not in a gulf and there’s plenty of sharks,” she said.

“I wouldn’t put my toe in the water”.

The victim is recovering in hospital, and has been contacted for comment.

So far this year there has been 33 shark sightings reported to PIRSA, including six in November. A bronze whaler was spotted on November 8 just 200m north of Grange Jetty