Surfer Attacked TWICE by Shark, Drives Himself to Hospital

Drive to Survive

Following the attack, the victim reportedly was able to make his way to shore, and drive himself to the hospital. That’s where doctors got to work on not one, but two, serious injuries to his leg. The extent of the damage is unclear. However, the injuries are said to be non-life-threatening.

Mistaken Identity

Supposedly, the shark was hunting a seal at the time of the attack, possibly biting the surfer by mistake. According to Shark Watch South Australia:

“A Bronze Whaler was chasing a seal around the bay when the seal used the surfer as a decoy and the victim was bitten twice by the shark.”

Bronze Whaler Behavior

Although perhaps lesser known (and feared) than other shark species, like great whites, the bronze whaler has been known to attack humans. According to the International Shark Attack File:

“The bronze whaler shark has been implicated in fifteen attacks since 1962, one of which resulted in a fatality. It is considered potentially dangerous to humans.”

Previous Attacks

South Australia, recently, has been rocked by a number of shark attacks. In the last two years and some change, there have been four fatal shark attacks in the region, in addition to a handful of non-fatal incidents. One of the most heart-wrenching was the death of 28-year-old surfer Lance Appleby, who was attacked by a great white while surfing Granites Beach on the Eyre Peninsula at the beginning of 2025. His body was never found.