Shark attack survivor now spruiking new shark repellent tech

A BYRON Bay man who was bitten on the back by a bull shark while surfing at Seven Mile Beach in February is now an ambassador for a shark repellent technology.

Jabez Reitman after he was bitten by what is believed to have been a shark.

A BYRON Bay man who was bitten on the back by a bull shark while surfing at Seven Mile Beach in February has begun a new role as an ambassador for a shark repellent technology.

Jabez Reitman made headlines when he drove himself to hospital despite having been bitten on his back.

"At first I thought it was a dolphin, until [the bite] started stinging," Mr Reitman said at the time.

"Then I realised I had some pretty severe lacerations."

Mr Reitman, 36, is now an ambassador for Sharkbanz, which uses strong magnetic fields to drive sharks away. The devices cost a little over $100 each.

"After my attack, I did a lot of research into the different products on the market and found Sharkbanz to be the most trustworthy," Mr Reitman is quoted saying in a statement promoting the Sharkbanz product.

"It wasn't until I came into contact with another shark months later that I was able to test the product firsthand.

"Last week I was surfing near Byron Bay when a shark began circling me, it was incredible to see how fast the shark swam away as soon as it came within the magnetic field."