Teen paddled towards tiger shark to help kayaker
Josh Ball didn't think twice when he heard the call on the radio that Kyle Roberts' kayak had been attacked by a tiger shark.
Sunshine Coast
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JOSH Ball was at Kings Beach headland when his radio crackled.
"Moffat yakkers, Moffat yakkers” came through the radio.
The next word the 18-year-old fisherman heard early Thursday morning was "shark”.
He took off, paddling around the headland when he heard another call from fellow kayaker Kyle Roberts.
"I have been hit by a shark,” the Caloundra radiographer called through the radio.
Unwavering, Josh asked for Kyle's location and started paddling towards Moffat Headland.
He contacted Kyle as he reached the headland and headed east for about a kilometre.
Josh called the Coast Guard to try and help locate Kyle, who'd been sent flying from his kayak by a 4.5m tiger shark, which then took a pass at him and bit his kayak.
As Kyle clung to his now sinking kayak, Josh continued paddling east for about another kilometre, scanning the ocean for a paddle in the air as he grabbed a drink.
"When I saw the paddle I immediately contacted Coast Guard and reported the known location of the kayaker,” Josh said.
"Then I paddled as hard as I could to Kyle.
"Just before reaching Kyle, I signalled an incoming lifesaver then told Kyle to hold onto my kayak, as it was still afloat, and waited for the lifesaver to arrive.”
He said Kyle told him the shark, which had circled underneath his stricken vessel, had been up to 4.5m long.
Josh said Kyle hung onto his kayak and the partially-submerged kayak for about 30 seconds before he was able to climb onto the back of the lifesaver's jet ski.
The Buderim teen said the first radio call came through about 5.40am and he didn't reach Kyle until about 6.50am.
"I'm just happy to have been able to help and I'm not interested in too much recognition,” Josh said.
The teen has been fishing his whole life and heads out on his kayak whenever the wind is low enough, usually paddling out off Moffat Headland.
Volunteer lifesaver Graham Sharry was able to transfer Kyle on his jetski back to shore to waiting paramedics, who treated him for shock, but luckily, no other injuries.
Another lifesaver, Nathan Steer, took Josh back in as well as a precaution, as it was unknown whether the large shark was still circling.
Kyle thanked those who helped him yesterday for saving his life and said he was happy to be home with his family in Currimundi.
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