Manly shark bite victim Pete Schultz keen to get back in the ocean

A man recovering in hospital with ‘major trauma’ injuries after he was bitten by a shark in Manly on Tuesday morning ‘will undergo a few more tests’ following surgery.

Peter Schultz was attacked by a shark in Manly. Picture: Sara Whitelaw

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The man who was bitten by a shark while swimming in Manly says the attack won’t stop him getting back in the water.

Pete Schultz, 53, of Manly, was on an early morning swim in the dark with the Manly-based Bold and Beautiful swimmers on Tuesday when he was attacked by a grey nurse shark two thirds of the way to Shelly Beach.

A mature Grey Nurse Shark at the now closed Manly Oceanworld in Sydney.

He’s currently recovering in Royal North Shore Hospital after an operation on Tuesday night.

Shark scientists from the Department of Primary Industries confirmed the critically endangered and normally “harmless” grey nurse shark was responsible for Mr Schultz’s injuries, which included puncture wounds to the stomach and nasty lacerations to his back and leg.

Fire and Rescue Chief Supt Ken Murphy at Manly Beach. Picture: Julie Cross

His friend Ken Murphy, 57, who was swimming with him in the 5.30am group, said Mr Schultz was in “fantastic spirits” and recovering from surgery.

“He’s had a comfortable night but he will undergo a few more tests,” he said.

“The surgeons did some work on his leg and back. They were not overly worried about his stomach wounds.

“They also did some work on his hand.”

Grey nurse shark in Cabbage Tree Bay. Picture: Nick Dawkins

Mr Murphy, who is a Fire and Rescue chief supt, said he wasn’t sure exactly what the surgery involved but friends were taking bets on how many stitches he had.

Despite Mr Schultz’s injuries Mr Murphy said his friend was keen to get back into the water soon.

“He’s concentrating on getting himself well and getting back in the water,”
he said.

On Tuesday afternoon the DPI warned swimmers to be shark smart and not to go out in “dark, rough or turbid waters”.

Mr Murphy said the Bold and Beautiful’s 5.30am swim may be something the group “will assess over a period of time”.

He said everyone knew the risks of getting in the water.

“It’s a marine reserve, we know what’s in there,” Mr Murphy said.

“We know it’s frequented by sharks.

“We spend most of the summer looking for dusky whalers and turtles.

“It’s fantastic. It adds value to the swim we do.”