Man attacked by shark at Broken Head near Byron Bay

A BYRON Bay surfer who was thrown from his surfboard after a shark attacked him from below says he ‘just wants to enjoy being alive’ in his first interview since the ordeal.

The attack took place at Broken Head near Byron Bay.

BYRON Bay surfer Jade Fitzpatrick says he is lucky to be alive after a shark threw him from his board while surfing at Broken Head.

In his first interview since the ordeal, Mr Fitzpatrick said he is “all good” after being stitched up at hospital.

“I just want to enjoy being alive today,” he said.

“I’m all good mate.”

Byron Bay surfer Jade Fitzpatrick says he is lucky to be alive after a shark threw him from his board while surfing at Broken Head. Picture: Supplied

SHARK NETS COULD BE UP WITHIN A MONTH

He said he was lucky the shark which left three puncture wounds in his leg and took chunks out of his brand new board was very “small”.

The incident occurred around 7.30am today in the stretch of water between Suffolk Park Beach and Broken Head near Byron Bay

The shark swam under Mr Fitzpatrick, believed to be in his 30s, while he was waiting for a wave with the surfboard taking the brunt of the attack.

He was taken to nearby Byron Bay Hospital by a friend and is being treated for lacerations to his right thigh.

A photo of the injuries sustained by the surfer. Picture: Geoffrey John Knapp

Geoffrey Knapp, who offered first aid at the scene, said the surfer had three punctures in his thigh.

“They’re deep tooth wounds,” he told ABC.

“But in the great scheme of things it’s marginal but his surfboard took the brunt of the bite.”

Mr Knapp said he and a friend had been surfing near a group of dolphins when he saw the surfer leaving the water in a hurry.

The man was taken to Byron Bay Hospital where he was treated for lacerations. Picture: Aaron Hoffman Facebook

But he said the man had seen the shark’s tail as it bit him. “He got the impression the shark was trying to knock him off his surfboard and try and roll him over,” he said.

A witness who was surfing nearby when the man was attacked described the “freaky” moment she saw a surfboard flying into the air.

“I’m pretty sure his board went flying into the air and he got a mass, just a chunk out of his leg and side,” said New Zealand tourist Belinda Holland told Today.

“There was a lot of blood ... it was pretty freaky.”

The woman said the attack didn’t last long but it took about 30 minutes to get the victim to safety.

“It (happened) pretty fast,” she said.

The man’s surfboard after the attack. Picture: Aaron Hoffman Facebook

“It took us a while (to realise he had been attacked) because we were just a little bit down the beach.

(It probably took) about half an hour (to get him out) ... everyone is out now.”

Byron Bay surfer Geoffrey Knapp posted a photo of the victim’s attack wounds on Instagram.

In the picture the man is lifting up his wetsuit to reveal three small puncture marks.

“One very lucky surfer today at broken head,” the caption reads.

Broken Head, which has been closed following the attack, is not a patrolled beach and is only accessible from paths leading from the national park south of Byron Bay.

Cooper Allen was attacked by a shark at Lighthouse Beach near Ballina. Picture: CH 7

The man managed to swim himself to shore with the help of nearby surfers and was driven to hospital after posing for several photos in a carpark.

“Police and Lifeguards have been on-scene clearing the water of swimmers and surfers, and a Duty Officer from Tweed Heads also attended,” a NSW SLSC spokesman said.

“Lifeguards from Byron Bay will be conducting a sweep of the beach periodically throughout the morning and the public is urged to avoid the area throughout today.

“The species of the shark involved is not known and the matter has been referred to the NSW Department of Primary Industries for further investigation.

“A decision on when to reopen the beaches will be made on Tuesday morning after consultation with all stakeholders.”

A decision on when to reopen the beaches will be made on Tuesday morning after consultation with all stakeholders.

All beaches across Byron Bay will remain closed for 24hrs following a shark attack at Broken Head this morning: https://t.co/x56ZjIY5a7 pic.twitter.com/UQsx4ZmZO8

— Surf Life Saving NSW (@slsnsw) October 23, 2016

It is the latest of a spate of attacks which has shaken the Northern NSW surfing community and comes weeks after the Baird Government promised to put nets in the area.

RECENT ATTACKS

2015

February 6, Newcastle (Merewether Beach) — Male bodysurfer bitten on foot by wobbegong shark. Minor lacerations.

February 8, Ballina (Seven Mile Beach) — White pointer attacks surfer Jabez Reitman, 35, about 60m from shore. Chunk of flesh ripped from his back and lacerations to hip.

February 9, Ballina (Shelly Beach) — Japanese surfer Tadashi Nakahara dies after 4m great white severs both legs in an attack close to shore.

May 3, Taree (Saltwater Beach) — Local man treated for serious wounds to his left arm and right hand after attempting to fight off a white pointer about 60m from shore.

July 1, Yamba (Flat Rock) — Great white severs nerves and tendons in male surfer’s hand after attacking as he paddled out through the breakers.

July 2, Ballina (Lighthouse Beach) — 32-year-old bodyboarder Mathew Lee mauled by 4m great white. Serious injuries to both his legs but both limbs saved in emergency surgery.

July 31, Evans Head (Main Beach) — Surfer Craig Ison, 52, attacked by a white pointer during morning surf, suffering serious wounds to his leg and arm.

August 22, Port Macquarie (Lighthouse Beach) — Bodyboarder Dale Carr loses 2.5l of blood after being mauled by 3m great white about 150m from shore.

September 4, Forster (Black Head Beach) — White pointer mauls surf-skier David Quinlivan, 65, as he paddles offshore. Serious wounds to his left ankle.

November 10 — Ballina (Lighthouse Beach) — Champion junior surfer Sam Morgan, 20, seriously injured after 3m bull shark mauls his left thigh.

2016

March 30 — Kiama (Bombo Beach) — Surfer Brett Connellan, 23, loses 70% of his upper left leg and suffers deep wounds to his left hand in a white pointer attack about 100m from shore.

September 26 — Ballina (Lighthouse Beach) — 17-year-old surfer rushed to hospital with serious leg wounds after being mauled shortly before 9am.

October 24 — Surfer attacked at Broken Head near Byron Bay. He suffered non life-threatening injuries and was driven by a mate to Byron Bay Hospital.