A man who was attacked by a shark while surfing displayed an 11-inch scar resulting from the incident. Lee Berryman confirmed the shark bite took place at D’Estrees Bay, Kangaroo Island, Australia, on October 7. Initially, he mistook the shark for a Bronze Whaler. The South Australia Police reported that a man in his 50s drove himself to the hospital after the attack.
Shark Watch South Australia (SWSA) estimated that the bite on Mr. Berryman’s thigh was approximately 10 inches long, indicating that the shark was about three meters in length. Mr. Berryman’s surfboard was damaged during the attack, and he shared graphic images of his scar, which required over 50 stitches. He mentioned being bitten once and described the shark as having “chomped” on him.
After examining the teeth marks on the surfboard, experts concluded that they matched those of a Great White shark, not a Bronze Whaler as initially thought. Mr. Berryman recounted his experience, stating that the shark grabbed him while he was swimming and he had to fight it off to escape. He noted that he recognized the shark from a previous encounter.
Mr. Berryman managed to swim ashore with two seals nearby, which provided some distraction until he reached safety. Despite his recovery progress, he mentioned having difficulty sitting for extended periods. SWSA announced plans to feature Mr. Berryman in a special public broadcast, highlighting his long history of surfing and diving in the area.
The Australian Shark Incident Database reveals an average of 20 shark incidents annually over the past decade, with an average of 2.8 fatalities each year and seven incidents resulting in no injuries.