Portland teen’s lucky escape after shark attack

Graphic images show how a Portland teenager was lucky to escape a terrifying shark attack while surfing in the southwest.

Isaak Johnstone is a keen surfer from Portland.

A Portland teenager says he is lucky a shark didn’t eat his foot after he was attacked while surfing on Victoria’s southwest coast.

Izaak Johnstone, 17, was surfing with eight of his mates at Nun’s Beach when he was bit by a shark about 6.30pm on October 6.

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

Mr Johnstone, who works at Voyage Surf, Ski and Skate, told the Herald Sun he was shocked when he was bit.

“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.

“I didn’t feel much when I was bitten because I was in shock, I was lucky it didn’t take my foot.”

The talented surfer said he didn’t know how large the shark was but it was big enough to cause damage to his tendons and nerves.

He sustained deep gashes to the bottom and side of his right foot with smaller cuts to the front.

A shark bit Izaak Johnstone’s right foot.

He susatined nerve and tendon damage.

It’s understood a mate was bumped by an object about 30 minutes before Mr Johnstone was attacked but the group couldn’t confirm whether it was a shark so they kept surfing.

Friend and collegue Marcus England said blood was oozing from Mr Johnstone’s foot.

“Izaak was so lucky that local paramedics were watching the surf at time,” he said.

“There was a fair bit of blood coming from his foot.

“One gash is pretty hollow.

“He is lucky to have his foot intact, if it was wider or a bit deeper, it could have been alot worse.”

Mr England said his mate was brave and in good spirits.

Despite the terrifying incident, Mr Johnstone said he would never stop doing what he loved.

“I’m never going to stop surfing, I just need to recover then I’ll get back in the water,” he said.

It comes as Mr England said another friend spotted a shark at the same beach a few months ago.

“He pushed it away and came to the shore and collapsed,” he said.

“He was overwhelmed, it was a close call.”

Mr England said shark attacks in the region had ramped up in recent years.

“The reality is, it’s becoming more and more frequent,” he said.

“It is affecting surf culture, we can’t sit back and ... watch.”

Voyage Surf, Ski and Skate said their “heart and thoughts” were with the teen.