Stab Magazine | Surfer mauled by Great White Shark in Ballina

Live Now: Chapter 11 Mini-Documentary With Dane Reynolds

941 Views

Surfer mauled by Great White Shark in Ballina

A 32-year-old male surfer is in a critical condition after having his lower legs bitten by what’s believed to be a four-metre great white shark in Ballina today, on the NSW North Coast. He was surfing with two friends at North Wall when the the attack occurred just after 10am. The two friends helped him to the […]

news // Mar 8, 2016
Words by stab
Reading Time: < 1 minute

A 32-year-old male surfer is in a critical condition after having his lower legs bitten by what’s believed to be a four-metre great white shark in Ballina today, on the NSW North Coast.

He was surfing with two friends at North Wall when the the attack occurred just after 10am. The two friends helped him to the beach before performing CPR and trying to stem the blood flow with makeshift tourniquets using their leashes. They contacted emergency services, who worked on the man in the back of a ute before he was flown to Gold Coast University Hospital.

The injuries were described as ‘severe’, and it’s believed that a tooth was found in his wounds.

The Westpac chopper used to airlift the victim was later deployed to search for the shark. Shortly after, a great white shark was spotted near where the attack occurred (see video above). All beaches within the Ballina Shire are closed for the next 24 hours, while lifeguards patrol the waters on jet-skis and boats.

In February, 41-year-old Tadashi Nakahara died after being attacked at Shelly Beach, one beach over from Lighthouse, by what was believed to be a bull shark. And in 2008, a 16-year-old died after a shark attack at the southern end of Lighthouse Beach next to the breakwater.

The Skullcandy Oz Grom Open was set to begin tomorrow morning with 270 kids showing up 10km north of Lighthouse. Organisers are obviously unsure whether the event will now be postponed.

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

Watch: João Chianca Had A Remarkable Hawaii Season Before His Injury

Plus an update on his condition.

Mar 28, 2024

Pittar’d And Feathered

Do the WSL judges deserve the internet's wrath? We asked the man of the hour.

Mar 28, 2024

Robbo, Pickles, And Tyler Wright Become The Underdogs Breakfast At Uninspiring Winkipop

The foreboding blade sharpens and inconsistent judging prevails on Day Two in Torquay.

Mar 27, 2024

“I Don’t Always Win Heats, But When I Do, I Try To Beat John John”

Slater shines and the axe begins its descent on Day 01 at Bells.

Mar 26, 2024

Back Against The Wall: The Ramzi Boukhiam Redemption

Morocco's first CT surfer on speaking six languages, having no coach, and snatching Fil Toledo's…

Mar 25, 2024

Will Kirra, Babies or JJF Stop a GOAT Winning at Bells?

Bluesky BOAG advice from a Superman specialist and former Trials winner.

Mar 25, 2024

Bells Preview: The WSL’s Victorian Sword Dancing Equinox Ritual

Will a Brazilian crack the Top 10 at Bells?

Mar 25, 2024

69 Shin Bones Later + the Anticlimactic State of Big Wave Record-Breaking

Lucas Chumbo might have surfed the biggest wave ever this year. But how will we…

Mar 23, 2024

Watch: ‘Fresh and Fried’ Ft the Quik Kids

How taxing is it to tackle the Gold Coast’s Triple Crown in a single day,…

Mar 23, 2024

The Popular Vote: The People’s Stab In The Dark With Kolohe Andino Champion

Which board looked best — to you —under Kolohe's talons?

Mar 22, 2024

Six Key Learnings From Portugal

Three CT events in, what do we know? 

Mar 21, 2024

‘Zipper’ Is Going On Tour, Here’s Where You Can Watch It  

Dates, times + locations for the Venice, Encinitas, Sydney + Byron premieres.  

Mar 20, 2024

Dane Reynolds On His Future, His Past, And Chapter 11’s Raison D’être

Our 9-minute plunge into the collective psyche of Ventura's pillar(s).

Mar 20, 2024

From ‘Blue Ribbon Cross Country Runner’ to Vogue – How Steph Again Is Back With A Rip Curl Remix

Everything we know about the she-GOATs sponsorship boomerang.

Mar 18, 2024

Stab Interview: Darren Handley Explains Why You Can’t Buy The Winning Stab In The Dark Model

And his decades-long standoff with Slater.

Mar 17, 2024

Griff Embraces Portugal’s Eternal Time Loop To Vanquish Medina + Ewing, Defay Delays The Inevitable

A redeeming closing act at Supertubos.

Mar 16, 2024

The Secret Behind Lungi Slabb’s Inconceivable Greenmount Funnel

Six broken boards, one leaking forehead, and five days of Superbank mysticism.

Mar 16, 2024

Cheat Codes: A Million Miles Worth Of Travel Advice From Coco Ho

Hard-earned wisdom from more than 2,000 hours in the troposphere.

Mar 15, 2024
Advertisement