Teenager Bitten By Suspected Bull Shark At Cabarita
Victim in serious but stable condition at Gold Coast University Hospital.
A teenager was attacked by what’s believed to be a bull shark at Cabarita Beach on Sunday, June 29, around 3:30 PM. According to 9 News, he sustained injuries to his upper right arm, wrist, and right leg. He was airlifted by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter to Gold Coast University Hospital, where he remains in serious but stable condition.
The attack occurred on a gloomy, rain-soaked mid-winter afternoon — prime time for sharks and very much not ideal for surfers.
First on the scene was Nicka35, a freelance Gold Coast surf reporter. “People in the lineup mentioned they saw a massive fin swimming and hanging out for quite a long time after the attack,” he posted.
A video circulating shows the 8-foot predator tailing the victim into ankle-deep water before veering back out to sea. The bite appeared less like an exploratory nibble and more like a pre-main course appetizer.
A few years ago, Australian marine authorities attempted to rebrand shark attacks as “negative encounters” — presumably after eating some overly potent edibles. The public wasn’t biting.
Of note: NSW Shark Smart tagged and released a tiger shark at Cabarita just two days earlier, on Thursday.
Surfing is a year-round pursuit in Australia. Advising people to stay out of the ocean feels both futile and trite. Still, there are increased risks this time of year.
It’s peak whale migration season. An estimated 40,000 humpbacks moving north along the east coast. And with them: predators. Sharks of all kinds, shadowing the pods, picking off the weak, the wounded, the juveniles.
Statistically, shark attacks spike from June through October. Especially in the Northern Rivers, where the coast kinks outward and migrating whales brush close to the points — Lennox, Broken, Byron.
On any given Tuesday at the Byron Lighthouse, you’ll spot breaches. Dip your head beneath the surface, and you’ll hear their high-pitched songs — clicks, squeals, banter.
Our thoughts go out to the victim’s friends and family.
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