A windsurfer has escaped unharmed after a terrifying encounter with what is believed to be a great white shark in the Margaret River region, one of Australia’s most famous surf spots. Andy McDonald, 61, was bitten by his board, but managed to save his life by responding with a punch and quickly getting out of the water.
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The incident occurred at around 5:45pm (local time) on Monday at the Bonbie surf spot. McDonald was practicing with a group on a hydrofoil board, which has wings that allow it to glide over water, when he fell off and saw the animal approaching. Cameras recorded the attack.
“I fell on top of him…and started punching him,” the surfer said in a video published by local newspaper the Augusta Margaret River Mail. –So I had a sail and jumped on it to get out of the water. And I started screaming for help.
His friend, identified only as Matt, paddled up to him and helped him return to shore. The journey to the beach took about 15 minutes. Despite the scare, MacDonald emerged unscathed, but with a large piece ripped off his board.
“It’s okay, I survived to tell this story,” joked the Melbourne surfer. –I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep for a week.
An incident reminiscent of Mick Fanning 10 years ago
It was in October 2015 that three-time world surfing champion Mick Fanning was surprised by a great white shark during the final of the Jeffreys Bay Stage in South Africa. He watched live as part of the rope on the board was pulled and reacted with a punch. The footage shocked the world and became one of the most iconic moments in sports history.
After that scare, Fanning continued to compete for three more seasons, but realized he needed to rethink his path. In an interview with CEO Magazine, he said the episode “made me think about my ‘life after surfing’.” The sea, his place of solace, came to represent the final sign that the time had come to explore new horizons.
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