‘Extreme, phenomenal’: Two decades of the worst shark attacks in Victoria

Teens, surfers, doctors and Victorians from all walks of life have been victims to chilling shark encounters – but that hasn’t stopped them from getting back in the water.

Over the past decade, shark attacks have been occurring all across Victoria, concerning the surfing community and culture.

We take a look back at some of the most shocking, and surprising shark incidents Victorians have suffered.

Portland resident and Voyage Surf, Ski and Skate owner Marcus England says he loves surfing but the likelihood of finding sharks across country beaches are higher than people expect.

“The east coast attacks and sightings are phenomenal. I’ve got mates that get chased out by sharks regularly, as well as regularly being in the surf and having the alarms of shark spotting drones going off right above their heads,” Mr England said.

“In Portland the harbour sometimes used to be full with fish. You could see fish splash covering the entire harbour.

“Now, some days you could see fish as long as you wanted and wouldn’t catch a thing.

“Yet there’s been two reported attacks and a huge thresher shark wash ashore on Nuns Beach in the last eight months.

“On the extreme side, one day the Portland harbour may be filled with jumping sharks, instead of the fish there once was years ago.

“And certainly no swimmers or beach goers on any beaches,” he added.

Izaak Johnstone: Nuns Beach, Portland – October, 2022

A Portland teenager says he was lucky a shark didn’t eat his foot after he was attacked while surfing at Nuns Beach.

Izaak Johnstone, 17, was surfing with eight of his mates when he felt a shark swallow his foot, followed by a painful bite that left gashes in his right foot.

Izaak Johnstone was attacked by the shark at Nuns Beach on Thursday October 6.

The shark managed to leave a gash in Izaak’s foot. Picture: Supplied.

The Monivae College year 11 student was taken to the Warrnambool South West Healthcare Hospital and underwent surgery on October 7.

Mr Johnstone, who works at Voyage Surf, Ski and Skate, said he was shocked when he was bitten.

“I was just having a surf after school as usual with some mates, the water was cloudy and I was waiting for a wave and I felt it latch onto my foot,” he said.

Jack Shaw & Tiarna Athanasiou: Ocean Grove – December, 2021

Teenagers Jack Shaw and Tiarna Athanasiou were attacked by a bronze whaler shark in 2021 in Ocean Grove, where Jack was able to fight off the shark to rescue him and his friend.

“I turned around, it got me on the back and then I said, ‘swim’ and tried as fast as we could to get back into shore,” Mr Shaw said.

Jack Shaw and Tiarna Athanasiou were taken to the Geelong Hospital after the attack occurred.

He suffered a centimetre-deep gash and bite marks to his back, while Tiarna suffered a cut to her hand and a wound to her leg.

Mr Shaw and Ms Athanasiou were both taken to the Geelong Hospital in stable condition.

Mr Shaw dispatched overnight and Ms Athanasiou remained in Hospital and underwent surgery the next day.

Dylan Nacass: Bells Beach, Torquay – May, 2020

French backpacker Dylan Nacass was lucky enough to escape with his arms and legs when he was attacked by a shark in 2020.

Mr Nacass was surfing at Bells Beach in Torquay, where a shark grabbed hold of his leg. He punched the predator twice and successfully set himself free.

French backpacker Dylan Nacass was attacked at Bells Beach, Torquay in May 2020.

“I was a little bit scared, but not too much,” Mr Nacass said.

Mr Nacass suffered a few gashes to his legs, which were treated with stitches.

Despite the situation, Mr Nacass held no grudge against the shark that attacked him.

“I love animals too, and I just want the best for the world,” he said.

Marcel Brundler: Lorne – August, 2017

In 2017, the veteran surfer Marcel Brundler was attacked by a 4m long shark while surfing waves in Surf Coast of Lorne.

Mr Brundler was enjoying a surf in the ocean, when he mistook the shark that was swimming directly toward him for a dolphin, until it attacked.

Marcel Brundler was attacked by the shark in Lorne, but sustained no injures, just a damaged board and wetsuit.

Fighting to save his life, Mr Brundler punched the predator in hopes it would release him.

“At some stage, it had me in its jaw, I was shouting and punching it while it attacked me,” Mr Brundler said.

Marcel Brundler's surfboard had multiple bites from the shark as it tried to attack him. Picture: Supplied.

Mr Brundler said that it was all thanks to his $800 surfboard that saved his life.

The shark’s attempt to attack Marcel resulted in bite marks to his surfboard and tore his wetsuit, but he wasn’t injured from the incident.

Mr Brundler said he was eager to get back into surfing, despite the shock he was given.

Mike Higgins: Port Campbell – June, 2012

In 2012, Mike Higgins was surfing with friends in Victoria’s southwest coast when a shark bit his foot.

Mr Higgins said he felt something “brushing” below him, soon realising a “five or six feet long” shark had bitten him.

Mike Higgins survived the shark attack eight years ago. Photo Supplied: Tim Carrafa

He and his friends swam back to shore as quickly as they could.

“It had a little bite then let me go after a couple of seconds … I was pretty scared,” Mr Higgins said.

Mr Higgins suffered severed tendons and a 7cm gash to his foot.

Mike Higgins was bitten on his right foot, where he required around 30 stitches. Picture: Supplied.

He was transported to Geelong Hospital by Ambulance Victoria, where he underwent surgery a couple of weeks later, ending up with 25-30 stitches.

He said he considered himself lucky, and that it could’ve been worse.

“I know a guy locally here that got bitten really badly probably 35 years ago and I think he got about 350 stitches … I really dodged a bullet,” Mr Higgins said.

Mark Byrne: Winkipop Beach, Torquay – March, 2014

The 42-year-old surfer Mark Byrne gained media attention across Australia in 2014 after punching a shark in the head when it jumped out of the water and landed on his board.

Mr Byrne continued surfing at Winkipop Beach after the 120-150cm shark launched at him and became stranded on the surfboard.

Mark Byrne was surfing in Torquay where he punched a shark that jumped onto his board. Photo Supplied: Mitch Bear

The surfer spoke to multiple television and radio stations regarding the incident, where his wife thought the media attention was “hilarious”.

“It didn’t even bite me, I survived a nudge,” Mr Byrne said.

He said the scare did not compare to the battle with bowel cancer he had at the time.

Jimmy McDonald Jones: Frankston – July, 2013

The 29-year-old Frankston surfer Jimmy McDonald Jones was attacked by a shark in 2013 after it mistook him for a seal.

Mr McDonald Jones was body surfing with three of his friends on the Mornington Peninsula, where a shark sunk its teeth into his back ‘like a suction cup’, and left a basketball-sized hole in his wetsuit.

Jimmy McDonald Jones said the shark's bite was 'like a suction cup'. Picture: Supplied.

“It took a bite across my back about the size of a basketball. I pushed it off and it was thrashing against me, it was really strong – I thought I was dead,” Mr McDonald Jones said.

The young surfer was able to swim to safety, but the shark bit him again.

“I think he was just curious; if he‘d wanted me, he would have had me. He had a taste and thought, ‘that’s not a seal’,” he said.

The shark was believed to be a small white pointer or a bronze whaler.

Mr McDonald Jones suffered a back injury from the attack.

Dr Pat Lockie: Thirteenth Beach, Barwon Heads – January, 2010

In 2010, Dr Pat Lockie was attacked by what he believed was a tiger shark at Thirteenth Beach in Barwon Heads.

Dr Lockie was surfing off shore when he was bitten by the shark after placing his hand into the water.

The doctor was able to free himself by ripping his right hand from the shark’s mouth, suffering lacerations to his hand.

Plastic surgeons were later able to patch up the wound on his hand.

“It came up to me and I saw its head. I honestly couldn't say what I was feeling. It was absolute terror,” Dr Lockie said.

Andrew Houston: Port Phillip Bay – October 2011

Mystery surrounds the death of diver Andrew Houston, who survived a shark attack only to pass away in another diving incident two years later.

In 2011 Mr Houston was diving where he was attacked by a Port Jackson shark on Elwood Beach.

Andrew Houston's body was discovered on the sea floor of Brighton Bay, two years after his attack with a Port Jackson shark in 2011.

The shark latched onto his leg while he was swimming and Mr Houston was forced to swim to shore, which took 10 minutes, with the small shark still clamped onto his leg.

Once he made it back to shore, he spent another several minutes attempting to remove the animal with the help of a person who witnessed the situation.

Although he survived his encounter with a shark Mr Houston died at 51. His body was discovered on the sea floor at Brighton Bay in 2013.

Victoria Police Senior Sergeant James Dalton says it is not clear what happened to Mr Houston, who was solo diving at the time of his disappearance.

To report shark sightings, contact Victoria Police on triple-0 and provide the date and time of the sighting.