A man who was attacked by a Great White shark while surfing in D’Estrees Bay, Kangaroo Island, Australia, displayed an 11-inch scar from the incident. Lee Berryman initially thought he was bitten by a Bronze Whaler before confirming it was a shark attack on October 7. The South Australia Police reported that the victim, in his 50s, drove himself to the hospital post-attack.
Shark Watch South Australia (SWSA) estimated that the shark responsible for the attack on Mr. Berryman was approximately three meters long, based on the 10-inch bite mark on his thigh. The victim’s surfboard was damaged during the attack, and he shared images of his extensive scar that required more than 50 stitches. He mentioned that the shark bit him once and described the experience as being “chomped” on.
Analysis of the teeth marks on the surfboard revealed that they matched those of a Great White shark rather than a Bronze Whaler. Mr. Berryman recounted his encounter with the shark, stating, “Its nose was close to me, and so I just started belting it and it let go. As soon as I felt it grab me, I thought to myself, ‘that’s the little f***** that was here the other day.'”
Following the attack, as Mr. Berryman swam back to shore, two seals accompanied him, with one of them playfully circling around him until he reached safety. While recovering, Berryman mentioned that he is able to walk but cannot sit for extended periods. SWSA expressed their support for him and announced plans to feature him on their upcoming ‘Sharks Cast’ for a special public broadcast.
Despite the incident, Mr. Berryman, who has been surfing at D’Estrees Bay for 43 years, holds no animosity towards sharks, emphasizing that he knows the waters well and has a deep understanding of the marine environment.
According to the Australian Shark Incident Database, there have been an average of 20 shark incidents per year over the last decade, with an average of 2.8 fatalities annually and seven incidents resulting in no injuries.