MAN VS. SHARK
Surfer Survives a Battle with a Great White
While everyone takes a beating in the water now and again, few have ever duked it out with a shark and lived to tell the tale.
That’s what Paul Buckley did when he was attacked on July 7. While surfing in Stilbaai, South Africa, 37-year-old Buckley was attacked by what is believed to be a Great White. He was paddling back to shore when suddenly he was flipped in the air. “I just knew in my gut that it was a shark. It was like a 500 lb. Rottweiler in a very bad mood,” he said. “The force was incredible. The first thing I said when I was attacked was, ‘No, please God not like this.’”
The shark sunk its teeth into his leg, incising a gash 37cm long and 3cm wide. In a desperate effort to fend off the fanged creature, Buckely grabbed its tail. “I feared for my life so I just grabbed it. I thought if I held it by the tail, its mouth could not reach me again,” he said.
And apparently, his tactic worked. The shark released him, and Buckley swam the 100 meters to the sand. Pieter Boeta de Witt, age 16, spotted the thrashing victim and hurried to help Buckley as he scrambled ashore. Boeta and his sister rushed the injured surfer to a local doctor. Buckley was moved to a hospital, where the wound was closed with 150 stitches. He was discharged on Wednesday.
“I owe him one really, because he could have easily come back and clamped his teeth round me but he didn’t and just swam away,” Buckley said. “It’s one of those things that just happens. If you look at the probability, it’s just so unlikely. The shark was doing what comes naturally – looking for food.”
Buckey’s board suffered as well, as the shark’s jaws left a 20-25cm hole in it. Lifeboat spokesman Rico Menezies estimated that the predator was three-and-a-half meters long and postulated that it was a Great White. Though South Africa’s waters do attract a great number of sharks, attacks are rare and happen on average only 6 times a year. Of those, only 12 percent have been fatal.
So why surfers? Scientists claim that sharks may mistake surfers for seals, which are easy prey. According to Menezies, the conditions that day were ideal for a shark attack, as the water was murky and the waves were sizable. He said that two whales were in the area, and speculated that they could have had a calf with them that may have enticed the shark.
The incident has not deterred the surfer, as he’s already eager to get back in the water. “Surfing is my sport and I‘ll paddle out again,” he said. “Once you have the ocean in your blood, it‘s in your blood.”
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READER COMMENTS
Tue Jul14, 2009, 9:31 AM
Or should it say, "...Once you blood has been in the ocean..." ?
Tue Jul14, 2009, 11:59 PM
Which is more rare - the attack - or someone on the beach willing to help! Nice job on both parts!
Tue Jul21, 2009, 12:19 AM
Wow, what a close call. It seems that sharks are looking at surfers like a meal more latey than ever! I surf San Onofre(old mans) Ca, and there have been an increasing shark and surfer meeting. The last two months have been shark months in CA. Keep one eye towards the waves and one under your board!! Scary stuff but I would rather die surfing than to live without it!
Tue Jul21, 2009, 8:01 PM
Wow - close call. Glad there was a good ending. The story caught my eye - I saw a shark wile surfing Mission Beach, San Diego on Sun. July 13. It jumped out of the water about 10 ft. in front of me (like it caught a fish near the surface) as I was paddling back out after a wave and I just caught a glimpse, at first thinking it might have been a young dolphin, but its features were more angular. The water was very clear that day, and a few seconds later, as I was sitting on my board, I saw it about 1 - 2 ft. below the surface, maybe 7 - 8 ft. away, in front of me to my right. I was looking it in the eye as it circled around to my rear, where I lost sight of it because of the sun reflecting off the water. I kept surfing, and didn't see it again.
Tue Jul21, 2009, 9:09 PM
I forgot to mention it was all grey with a white belly. About 5 ft. long. It was looking at me with a big lifeless eye, like a doll's eye.
Fri Jul24, 2009, 3:35 AM
Wes, Love the Jaws quote. Heading out tomorrow morning early in Venice CA, Getting some good south swell. Should be fun. excited to finally get enough surf to test out my new 6'2 merrick.
Fri Jul24, 2009, 9:40 AM
I also saw a shark on the 13th of Jult at Torrey pines in San Diego. The water was super clear and as I walk paddling out, a shark that I would estimate at 5 feet long swam right past me. It was all gray with a little bit of black on the tip of its tail. Honestly, I think it was just a large sand shark. I surfed but I was thinking of that shark the whole session.
Sat Jul25, 2009, 3:26 PM
shark attacks are far and few between each other but I find it interesting how are bodys can sense the danger without the visual of seeing the shark when it is close by ,like the hair on arms and neck,start to stand straight up and the water and air chill factor just dropped a few degrees without help of wind or current,so take note and listen to the body,get out of water to surf another day,it will be worth it in doctor bills alone and healingtime out of water,not to mention the guts it takes to get back in after being attacked.so stay tuned to the body and mother earth and she will let you ride til your heart is content.
Sat Aug 1, 2009, 10:42 AM
John R. great advice, you couldn't be more correct. The body is so in tuned with Mother Nature, especially when doing something like surfing which is Mother Nature, your body, and mind working so closely together. Always trust your gut in that type of situation it will let you know far in advance, also in situations in the woods camping or hunting, you will be notified far in advance if you are being watched by a bear or other animal that is thinking of making you a meal!! TRUST YOUR GUT AND YOU GET TO KEEP YOUR GUT!!!
Tue Aug 4, 2009, 3:06 PM
Hey! We had a shark swim by the other day at The Point at Sano. No one got out, but it does make you look down more often.
Tue Aug 4, 2009, 5:05 PM
Living and surfing in Florida, I have come to accept the presence of sharks on a daily basis, but we hardly get the maneaters. Mostly just the little baby spinners and black tips; nevertheless, we do get them. You either surf with them or you don't surf at all...because they're always there...I choose surf...
Fri Aug 7, 2009, 10:34 AM
I'm fairly new to surfing in So. Cal and thought the goosebumps were just the thrill of getting my first few good rides. I'll pay closer attention next time. I had no idea there were that many shark and surfer meetings. Thank's for the heads up !
Mon Aug10, 2009, 6:30 AM
@Paul Buckley, sounds like God heard ya dude, keep talkin to Him
Mon Aug10, 2009, 8:26 PM
I met a guy named Paul Buckely in Monavale, he was a part time sander for Greg Webber. I wonder if its the same guy.
Tue Aug11, 2009, 2:36 PM
In over 20 yrs of surfing Cali. and occasionally North Carolina during hurricane season, I have seen 2 big white sharks(both at 4 mile) and a school of adult hammerheads on Okracoke Is. I was terrified on all accounts and came in quickly, only to paddle back out after watching an empty set of waves pass by. Sharks are always there, we just do not see them and they ignore us for the most part, except for the odd bite. Paul kept his wits and did the sensible thing by grabbing the shark's tail.
Sat Aug15, 2009, 12:09 PM
Sharks have been in the ocean longer than us,don't surf or swim above your ability (i.e. the capacity to handle the worst that could happen) by yourself. And remember, it's not you againest the shark, a human could barely hurt a great white, and they have humans as a meal or a mistaken snack. Be very familar with the areas you use especially if you dawn patrol(or like me) sunset surf...Smile and enjoy each surf, life's too short.......
Tue Aug18, 2009, 1:07 PM
I say open season on sharks. Tree huggers be damned
Tue Aug18, 2009, 5:31 PM
open season on sharks??? suck it up. leave that kill all sharks out of it... just enjoy the surf.
Thu Aug20, 2009, 1:26 PM
I moved here(Daytona Beach,FL) from La Jolla in 2000. I've seen a few shark's around S.D., and also in my surf travel's of the world! But, you can't even come close the shark encounter's we have around here! They breach around me all the freaking time!! I was bumped by a (I think a BULL!?) a couple of days ago, and had a spinner breach so many time's close to me! Quit worrying about it, or maybe you should also stare at the sky when there is a lightning storm, same odd's!! Oh yeah,if I meet anyone in person who want's to kill shark's, I'll beat the *^c% out of you and then chum your local surf spot with your face, punk!