Surfer Has Close Call In Warrnambool With Shark

Ryan Brower

• August 01 2008
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As reported by Peter Collins on theage.com.au

A surfer chased by a shark off a Warrnambool beach yesterday has told of his terrifying ordeal.

The 2.4 meter shark, which may have been a great white, came within centimeters of biting his foot.

The shark then chomped his leg rope in two, its jaws less than a meter from the surfboard.

“It was the closest I’ve ever got to being munched,” Aaron Seare recalled yesterday, a few hours after the scare.

The experienced 31-year-old surfer had paddled out on his own to the back breakers, 150 meters off Levys Beach, west of Warrnambool, about 10.30 a.m.

“I had caught two waves and was heading out again when I spotted the shark circling about 30 meters away,” Mr Seare said.

“It was about eight-foot long. Then it turned and made a beeline straight at me. I immediately paddled for shore as fast as I could. I felt a tug on the leg rope, but just kept going. I was freaking out.”

It wasn’t until he touched the beach and stood up that he realized his leg rope had been bitten in two.

Serrated bite marks indicate it could have been a seven gill or great white shark, Mr Seare said.

The realization of how close he had come to serious injury or death didn’t hit him until he reached the sand dunes.

“I had to sit down for a while when it hit me what really happened out there,” he said.

The leg rope had been borrowed from a friend, but Mr Seare will be pressing to keep the yellow nylon cord as a souvenir.

Despite the ordeal he still plans to head out for a surf today, but will go with a companion.

To read the full story head to theage.com.au