Byron Bay shark attack: Local tells of horror experience

A NAVY diver who lost his arm and leg to a bull shark attack has warned people if they knew how many sharks were near them, they would probably never go in the ocean again.

“If people knew how many sharks came close to them they would probably never go in the ocean.”

That’s the stark warning from Paul de Gelder, a former Navy diver, who lost his leg and arm to a bull shark while diving in Sydney harbour in 2009.

He said the tragic news of the death of a man in Byron Bay this morning is a reminder the ocean is a risky environment for people every time they enter.

MORE: Man killed in Byron Bay shark attack

“It’s so sad for everyone involved. Family and friends and obviously the victim himself,” Mr de Gelder told news.com.au.

“The bull shark took my hamstring and my hand. I believe the man this morning was bitten on the leg – it just goes to show how extremely lucky I was not to have been killed.

“[But] to be honest I’ve talked at so many survivors…None of the people bitten by the shark wish any ill on the shark. They understand the ocean is their environment.”

Still grab taken from video showing Navy Diver Paul de Gelder as he is attacked by a Bull shark in Sydney Harbour. Video ADF

Paul de Gelder in hospital recovering.

Since his attack, Mr de Gelder has become a vocal critic of government policies involving sharks, such as Western Australia’s shark cull. He said they need to find a way to protect sharks and people.

“The government needs to pull their socks up, get their fingers out of their bums and start protecting everyone instead of their coffers,” he said.

Shark attack survivor and former Navy Diver, Paul de Gelder training in Neutral Bay.

His comments come just hours after police confirmed a 50-year-old man was killed after being bitten on the leg by a shark at Clarkes Beach — a popular swimming spot in Byron Bay on the far north coast of NSW.

It’s believed he was doing the popular ocean swim from The Pass back to Byron Bay out past the breakers when he was attacked.

Shark biologists are working on identifying the creature that attacked him but it’s thought to be a great white which police will try and herd out to sea.

Map view of Byron Bay headland including The Pass, Watego Beach and Byron Bay Main Beach.

Newcastle lawyer Mark Hickey, 52, was one of the first on scene this morning and told The Daily Telegraph he saw a “six or seven foot” shark in the water. He could not identify the species and only saw a fin.

“I saw what looked like seaweed but it was blood in the water,” Mr Hickey said.

“I thought it was a dead turtle, but then I could see the shark circling and the object moving.

“The shark came back to him and had another go. I didn’t know it was a person — but when I realised I ran out and waded to the bank and grabbed him and did CPR but it was too late,” he said.

Relatives visit the scene of a shark attack near Clarkes beach, Byron Bay.

Mark Hickey, 52, from Newcastle, tried to save shark attack victim at Byron Bay Main Beach. Picture: Geoff Chambers

Twitter image posted by Carrie Greenbank shows a shark in the water. Picture: Twitter / @CGreenbank9

Local surfing identity John “Maddog” Morgan has also recalled being dragged out by a great white while surfing at the same location.

He said it felt like being towed by “a powerful jet ski” as he was pulled out to sea after a shark became tangled in his surfboard rope on Father’s Day 2008.

“It was scary, and this has really rattled me today, everyone is rattled,” he said.

Local surfer John Morgan was dragged out by a great white in the same spot six years ago.

“I’ve been in the surfboard industry for 40 years and you hear about everything, it’s not the first shark fatality that we can remember, but it’s probably the first one inside the bay.

“There’s a strong reaction, our phones have been running hot, so have the surf schools. This morning was such a pretty, calm, beautiful morning it’s the last thing you’d expect.”

Byron Bay.

Surf Life Saving Australia spokeswoman Donna Wishart said local beaches have been closed for 24 hours with lifeguards doing “surveillance runs” to see if there are any other sharks in the water and are urging swimmers, divers and surfers to stay clear.

“Shark sightings are fairly random and reasonably rare still,’’ she said.

“Tiger sharks and great whites have been known to be in the area but you’ll find them in any one of the waters off New South Wales. There’s not a particular breed or anything like that prevalent in that area.”

Police address the media at Byron Bay this afternoon. Picture: Twitter

A spokeswoman for the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) said a representative will determine the type and size of shark.

“A shark biologist from DPI will travel to the scene and will study the attack pattern and other key information to assist in identification of the shark,’’ the spokeswoman said.

The attack comes after Christine Armstrong was killed by a shark on her daily morning swim with husband Rob at Tathra Beach, on the state’s south coast, on April 3.

The 63-year-old was an experienced swimmer, who had been swimming at that beach for about 14 years.

For Mr de Gelder, today’s tragic events are another sign the government needs to take action.

“It really is time for the people running this country to start doing something. Not just to protect their tourism dollars.”

“They need to protect the sharks and the ocean going public.”