Aussie Surfer Survives Shark Body-Slam

Ryan Brower

February 23 2009
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As reported by Xanthe Kleinig for The Daily Telegraph.

Glen Lockery reckons he must be one of the luckiest men alive after surviving a body-slam by a shark.

Photo courtesy The Daily Telegraph’s website.

The predator came at him from the deep before disappearing into murky post-flood surf at Shelly Beach near Port Macquarie at about 5 p.m. last Wednesday.

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The incident is being investigated by the State government’s shark attack unit.

Mr Lockery was waiting for a wave, watching his mates paddle in, when he was attacked.

“I was sitting out the back on my own and just got hit from below,” he said yesterday.

It was a massive impact that flipped his surfboard up to hit him in the face.

Mr Lockery caught a glimpse of the shark’s girth - about twice as wide as his surfboard.

“People have told me that when it comes from the deep it is either a great white or a tiger. It lifted the board and broke the nose,” he said.

Mr Lockery, who was about 10m from shore, screamed’ and paddled in to the rocks.

“I’m thankful I’m alive. Possibly it realized I wasn’t a fish or seal.”

A surfer for 24 years, Mr Lockery made himself get back the water the next day: “I was pretty shaken but after getting back in the water I’ve surfed every day since.”

For the full story, head to The Daily Telegraph.