Port Macquarie shark attack victim Dale Carr says ‘human nature’ should be focus

THE New South Wales man who survived a great white shark attack has taken to Facebook to tell the ‘real story’ behind the hysteria.

Shark victim tells ‘the real story’

THE New South Wales man who survived a great white shark attack has urged people not to lose sight of “human nature”.

Dale Carr was bodyboarding with a friend at Port Macquarie on the NSW mid-coast on Saturday when he was bitten on the buttock, thigh and leg by the shark.

The 38-year-old has had several operations on his wounds and is about to go into another round of surgery.

He has taken to Facebook to say the “real story” of the shark attack was the people who helped save him — and not about the ongoing debate about shark culling along NSW coastline, which has been a hotspot for attacks this year.

“The fact that I managed to get the shark to let go, still paddle 200m to shore, collapse after reaching shore and have my friend Shane De Roiste help drag me up and put my arse together while others stemmed the blood loss. The fact that there were random acts of kindness displayed by everyone on the beach that day who were passer-by, others who had no obligation to assist is the real story.”

The shark that mauled Mr Carr was estimated to have been 2.7m.

Mr Carr, a construction worker, said he lost 2.5 litres of blood, and “quick thinking” doctors, nurses, paramedics did whatever they could to save him.

“That's the real story. Not the culling, not those who think I should be culled for being there in the first place. Don’t lose sight of human nature people.”

Some believe a controlled culling of sharks is the only way to stop the current wave of attacks — others though insist that it is ocean users that are putting themselves in harms way.

Instead of dwelling on that, he focused on the acts of bravery from Mr De Roiste and medical staff.

“The strong urge to help someone who needs it whether they are trapped in a car, house fire, held against their will and calling out for help. That's the real story. My scars will heal and surfers will continue to take that risk at any time of the day regardless of my circumstances. My thoughts are with those who knowingly risked their lives for those who have suffered an injury like mine or worse in recent weeks.

“That's the real story, the testament of human nature.”

Mr Carr reportedly saw the shark coming before he was attacked.

The NSW northern region has seen six shark attacks in the past year, but there have been 12 along the whole NSW coast.

Other surfers attacked in the northern region include Craig Ison who was mauled at Evans Head in July, Matthew Lee who was attacked at Ballina, and 41-year-old Tadashi Nakahara, who was killed at Ballina’s Shelley Beach in February.