Shark hit surfer like ‘underwater bus’ during fatal Gold Coast attack

The lifesavers who rushed to the aid of real estate agent Nick Slater after he was mauled by a shark last year have revealed new details of the horror attack, as they receive an award for their bravery.

Lifesavers have told how they desperately tried to save a surfer mauled by a great white shark at one of the Gold Coast’s safest family beaches.

Real estate agent Nick Slater was killed by the monster shark in September last year, but the efforts of four local lifesavers who rushed to help have now been officially recognised with an award from Surf Life Saving Queensland.

The Tweed Heads-Coolangatta clubbies have rejected suggestions their actions on the day were heroic, saying they simply did what anyone would do.

Iain Rogers, Geoff Carlin and Kane Haley agreed to talk about the horrific ordeal to raise awareness for SLSQ’s annual fundraising appeal, which wraps up this weekend.

Their clubmate Jason Baker is still too uncomfortable to talk of the fateful day, but his friends have described the chaos of watching Mr Slater hit with the force of an “underwater bus” before the water swirled with foam and blood.

Gold Coast shark attack victim Nick Slater.

Sitting on surf skis just 50 metres away, Mr Baker paddled straight towards the swirling water while Mr Rogers and Mr Carlin rushed to shore to raise the alarm.

Mr Haley, who had just left the water with a group of nippers after a training session, rushed to bring an all-terrain vehicle packed with first aid supplies.

All four were with Mr Slater on the sand as his life ebbed away and bystanders ran screaming from the beach.

It was the first fatal shark attack at a Gold Coast beach since shark nets were introduced more than 60 years ago and sent shockwaves around the country.

It was 5pm, September 8, 2020. Mr Haley, THC’s junior development surf coach, had just returned to shore with a group of nippers after an afternoon training session.

Usually the kids would head back out for a surf, but Mr Haley told them to pull up stumps and hit the showers.

It’s a decision he has thought about constantly in the months since.

“We nearly always had a surf after training,” he said.

“And that’s exactly where we would have paddled back out.

“It’s such a sliding doors moment because if something had happened to one of the kids who had put their trust in me, I don’t know what I would do.”

Hero Lifesavers Kane Haley, Geoff Carlin and Iain Rogers. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Mr Baker, Mr Rogers and Mr Carlin were still in the water.

They had just paddled their surf skis round to North Kirra and back.

Mr Slater was closer to the beach, but paddling further out to get over the top of an incoming swell when he was hit by “an underwater bus”.

Mr Carlin, a THC patrol captain said it happened in an instant.

“It was so quick,” he said.

“It was like a bus was coming through the water and took him underwater.”

Almost instantly the group kicked into gear.

Mr Baker paddled straight for the spot where Mr Slater had just been while the other two went in to shore to bring help.

Then it was chaos.

The group stayed with Mr Slater on the beach as others became involved.

Some people from the shore had gone into the water to help.

Onlookers crept closer out of curiosity while others ran away screaming.

An ambulance was on the scene in minutes, but there was nothing that could be done.

Bitten on the leg by a white pointer estimated at almost four metres long, Mr Slater lost too much blood to be saved.

Someone tried to apply a tourniquet to the wound but it was no use.

Greenmount Beach shack attack victim Nick Slater

It’s why receiving the prestigious Jack Dearlove MBE Medal for Lifesaving Excellence (Outstanding Rescue), is a strange feeling for the THC clubbies.

“I don’t feel that we did that much,” said Mr Carlin.

“We’re out there to save lives and ultimately we couldn’t save him.

“I really hope no one else has to face that situation.”

Mr Rogers, the club’s nipper president, was cradling Mr Slater’s head and shoulders before the ambulance took him away, but said he did not feel particularly brave or heroic.

“When something terrible like this happens you try to look for any positives and if there are any positives out of this it was the fact that at least the kids were out of the water and the way everyone worked together to try and help,” he said.

“There were a lot of people trying to help and a lot of people deserve recognition for that they did.”

Mr Haley, whose daughter was also in the water at the time surfing, took a few days away from the beach.

He eventually returned to the water with his daughter.

“There’s not a day goes by that it’s not present,” he said.

“But you think of how many millions of people have been to that beach, or any beach.

“It’s so unlucky and I just really feel for his family.”

SLSQ CEO Dave Whimpey said the group’s actions made them worthy winners of the award.

“Our lifesavers are brave and constantly have to put themselves in very difficult situations,” he said.

“But this is what lifesaving is all about, saving lives.

“I commend these men on their incredible effort and thank them for their service.”

The Queensland Lifesavers Appeal is SLSQ’s only fundraiser for the year, with all proceeds going towards ensuring lifesavers and clubs have the best equipment and access to training to keep people safe on the state’s beaches.

This year’s appeal is aiming to raise $500,000.

Originally published as Shark hit surfer like ‘underwater bus’ during fatal Gold Coast attack