Ballina, NSW home to another shark attack

Ballina… again? Shark attacks have gotten to the point where they’re no longer surprising, they’re losing their moxie. That is unless you’re the one suffering the attack, in which case I’d assume they are very surprising and a dumb word like ‘moxie’ doesn’t come close to explaining the magnitude of a several rows of teeth piercing your flesh.

Yesterday afternoon on the NSW coast, 20 year-old local, Sam Morgan sustained serious wounds to his left thigh after he was bitten by a Bull shark while surfing. This is the 12th attack that’s taken place on and around the Ballina coastline this year, two have proved fatal. Numbers that overcome the staggering 17 attacks in Reunion Island over the last four years.

Sam made his way back to shore where he was assisted by beachgoers. He was choppered to the hospital and a 24 hour beach closure was implemented. Sam underwent surgery, is currently stable but remains in an induced coma. “We feel a little better now knowing he’ll be alright,” Ballina Mayor David Wright told the Sydney Morning Herald. “At least now the government can see we have a problem. There will be nets in place by Christmas.”

The 20 kilometer stretch of Northern NSW saw 11 attacks between February and August, Ballina which sits in the middle of the area served as the focal point. If these statistics weren’t a reality they’d be unfathomable. “Something has to be done,” Mr Wright said back in August. “People have to be protected and we’ve got to get on top of this thing quickly so that Ballina does not become a byword for shark attack.” The way Reunion Island is… and for Ballina it may be too late for that.

Best wishes to Mr Morgan and his family, we hope for a speedy recovery.