Ocean Shores surfer Mickael Minet recovering after board cut him to the bone in nasty New Brighton Beach accident

A Byron Shire surfer is on the mend after the nose of a surfboard sliced through his calf muscle and down to the bone. Here’s what happened.

Mickael Minet manages a smile outside Byron Central Hospital while holding his board after the Byron Shire beach accident.

A Byron Shire surfer remains in relatively good spirits after the nose of a fibreglass surfboard sliced through his calf muscle and down to the bone.

The community has rallied to help 28-year-old Ocean Shores surfer Mickael Minet.

He has been unable to work his regular restaurant job after the accident at New Brighton Beach earlier this month.

Mr Minet and another surfer tried to catch the same wave at the Ocean Shores beach on September 16.

A thunderstorm approaches New Brighton Beach in the Byron Shire. Picture: Kathryn Lynch

The other man’s board struck Mr Minet on the leg and left the horrendous injury.

“I felt shock. I looked at my leg and saw blood so I paddled back to the sand as fast as I could and the surfer came to me on the beach,” Mr Minet said.

The other surfer – who was wearing a leg rope when the incident happened – rushed to help.

“He took my leg rope and put it on my leg to stop the bleeding and an ambulance was called,” Mr Minet said.

The main blood vessels supplying the lower body, the femoral artery, starts in the thigh and runs down the back of the leg.

Mickael Minet faces weeks of recovery.

Mr Minet could have been gone in minutes if the critical artery was severed.

Earlier this year, Byron Shire Council voted unanimously in favour of new regulation to enforce the use of leg ropes for surfing, with fines ranging from about $75 to $1100.

The rules were put in place to lessen accidents like Mr Minet experienced.

Mr Minet spent a few days in surgery and recovering at Byron Central Hospital.

Mickael Minet laid up at Byron Central Hospital. He was cut down to the bone by sharp nose of the board.

He will not able to walk properly or work has a kitchen hand at a Mullumbimby restaurant for about a month and said he was in a tough position, facing “serious debt”.

“It’s a bit s--t, yeah,” he said.

“I don’t have any savings, no health insurance and I still need to pay for food and rent.

“I’m grateful I have people at home to take care of me.”

Mr Minet set up a GoFundMe campaign several days ago to raise funds to assist. Supporters had already donated about $3500 of a $6000 target by Tuesday morning.