SYDNEY - Just when he thought it was safe to go in the water...An Australian surfer fought off a large shark and then rode a wave to safety, reports said on Monday. Michael Bedford, 41, was knocked off his board by the shark, believed to be a great white of "Jaws" fame, which then came back for a second charge, witnesses were quoted as saying.Although suffering from deep wounds to his leg, he punched the animal on the snout and then caught a passing wave to the shore, where friends used the board's rope as a tourniquet for the bite wounds.
" It happened that quickly, I'm not sure if I was turning my board or trying to throw my leg over the board - but the next thing I knew, I was getting lifted out of the water by a shark "
"He gave it a good whack he reckons, a good punch and that doesn't surprise me knowing Mick," said witness Lee Cummuskey.
"It's your worst nightmare and Mick's been through it and survived so he's just really lucky."
Bedford had surgery after Sunday's attack near Albany, south of Perth. He required three hundred stitches and his condition was described as stable.
"He gave it a good whack he reckons, a good punch and that doesn't surprise me knowing Mick," said witness Lee Cummuskey.
"It's your worst nightmare and Mick's been through it and survived so he's just really lucky."
Bedford had surgery after Sunday's attack near Albany, south of Perth. He required three hundred stitches and his condition was described as stable.
Australia suffers several shark attacks each year, with 194 people killed over the past two centuries, records show.
"You'd have to be a pretty tough shark to stop Mick," according to Bedford's brother-in-law.
Crocodile Dundee pales by comparison to this guy.
Michael, you showed that shark that he's meet his match...
ReplyDeleteYou are a very brave man and many kudos to you.