Emerald Beach surfer says shark attack cast ‘heavy shadow’ over town

“It makes it a lot easier to have the community support, we are very lucky in Emerald Beach,” said one of the surfers in the water at the time of the attack.

On Monday morning at Shelly Beach, a single bouquet of flowers was one of the few signs of the terrible tragedy that unfolded just 24 hours earlier – when a surfer was killed by a shark at the popular break.

Busy renovating one of the town’s few shops, The Emerald Beach General Store, local man Huey Riley recounts being one of the first to try and help the man on Sunday. 

Mr Riley said he heard his friend yell “he’s just been attacked by a shark” moments after spotting a group of surfers on the shore waving their arms and calling out.

Emerald Beach local Hugh Riley was one of the first to help a surfer who was attacked by a shark on Sunday August 6 at nearby Shelly Beach. Photo: Tim Jarrett / Coffs Coast Advocate.

The four friends quickly swam over to the man and set about helping him to shore, tying a leg rope around his arm as a tourniquet.

“I am incredibly proud of all the boys that were involved in it,” he said.

“(It was) a very confronting fight or flight situation and everyone … did everything they could to give him a shot at life.”

Mr Riley said while the tragic event had cast a “heavy shadow” over the tight-knit town, those involved had been overwhelmed with “amazing” support from the community.

Almost on cue, a man walking down the street made a beeline for Mr Riley and gave him a big hug while offering words of support. Surfing NSW has also reached out to the men, as has a local psychologist.

A police boat surveys waters the day after the man was bitten by a shark. Photo: Tim Jarrett / Coffs Coast Advocate

“I have had lots of six packs left at my front door with little notes just saying ‘proud of you’ and things like that,” Mr Riley said.

“It makes it a lot easier to have the community support, we are very lucky in Emerald Beach.”

Earlier in the day Coffs Harbour City Council’s lifeguard services team leader Greg Hackfath had sent up a drone to have a look for sharks before reopening the beaches.

High wind meant he was unable to send the drone up over Shelly Beach, where the man was killed, and powerful swell meant there was little to see.

Coffs Harbour Lifeguard Services Team Leader Greg Hackfath using a drone at Emerald Beach. Photo: Tim Jarrett / Coffs Coast Advocate

Mr Hackfath said the Department of Primary Industries had also found no further evidence of the shark and were in the process of removing smart drum lines which had so far failed to catch anything.

There have been anecdotal reports of increased shark activity in recent weeks and while Mr Hackfath acknowledged there was some evidence the whale migration may contribute to that, he said a fatal attack was rare.

“If you look at our statistics in Coffs Harbour we have only ever had one other fatality that I know of,” he said.

“It’s tragic and it doesn’t make it any easier for the family but it’s such a one-off thing – you have got to be in the wrong spot at the wrong time. ”