Stab Magazine | This week in sharks: Here’s our new reality!

Live Now — Episode 3 Of Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico

437 Views

This week in sharks: Here’s our new reality!

Shark attacks are becoming so regular now that they’re on news websites every single week. Or are there just more news websites looking for shark attacks to report on every week, and the number of attacks is in fact the same as ever? Excuse the meta, but it’s hard not to wonder. Especially when “Shark attack” encompasses everything from someone getting a nibble on the hand/foot to someone losing a limb, or their life. Either way, it’s real, they’re in the ocean, and this is our new reality. Here’s three instances from the past few days to add to the paranoia: – On the weekend, north of Zuma Beach, a Kayaker was attacked by a Hammerhead. Granted, Dylan Marks and Kyle Hudgins were fishing for yellowtail off their kayaks two miles off the coast when they noticed the 10-foot hammerhead circling. It disappeared for a few minutes, at which point Marks thought it’d be a good idea to dangle his foot in the water. Obviously, his foot was then bitten. Hudgins called 911 and Coast Guard rescuers brought them to shore. Marks was flown to Los Robles Hospital in Thousand Oaks and underwent surgery. Luckily, he didn’t lose his foot. Which all seems chill, except that Chris Low, director of Cal State Long Beach Shark Lab says hammerheads are coming closer to the Southern California coast due to El Nino patterns. Source. – On Friday in Oz, 65-year-old David Quinlivan was knocked off his surf ski at Black Head Beach (north of Forster) and bitten on the leg and foot. Being the only one in the water, he had little choice but to paddle himself in. Paramedics at the scene reported severe lower leg injuries, including cuts to his lower calf and a bite down to the bone on his left ankle. The Westpac Rescue chopper flew him from the beach to Newcastle’s John Hunter Hospital to undergo emergency surgery. NSW Premier Mike Baird said: “These attacks unprecedented, they’re extraordinary. They’re going to require action.” Source. – And just this morning… 42-year-old Justin Daniels was bitten on his hand and shaken from his board at Shelley Beach on the NSW Central Coast at about 6:15am. “It easily could have taken my hand or arm or come back for me,” Daniels told the ABC. “I am lucky. It was frightening.” Despite the attack taking place close enough to shore that it could easily have been a swimmer, Daniels said he had thoughts of Mick Fanning’s J-Bay encounter, given the fact he was knocked off his board and had to swim for it. Luckily his injuries weren’t life-threatening… but it certainly ain’t what you need during an early surf. Source.

news // Mar 8, 2016
Words by Stab
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Shark attacks are becoming so regular now that they’re on news websites every single week. Or are there just more news websites looking for shark attacks to report on every week, and the number of attacks is in fact the same as ever? Excuse the meta, but it’s hard not to wonder. Especially when “Shark attack” encompasses everything from someone getting a nibble on the hand/foot to someone losing a limb, or their life. Either way, it’s real, they’re in the ocean, and this is our new reality. Here’s three instances from the past few days to add to the paranoia:

– On the weekend, north of Zuma Beach, a Kayaker was attacked by a Hammerhead. Granted, Dylan Marks and Kyle Hudgins were fishing for yellowtail off their kayaks two miles off the coast when they noticed the 10-foot hammerhead circling. It disappeared for a few minutes, at which point Marks thought it’d be a good idea to dangle his foot in the water. Obviously, his foot was then bitten. Hudgins called 911 and Coast Guard rescuers brought them to shore. Marks was flown to Los Robles Hospital in Thousand Oaks and underwent surgery. Luckily, he didn’t lose his foot. Which all seems chill, except that Chris Low, director of Cal State Long Beach Shark Lab says hammerheads are coming closer to the Southern California coast due to El Nino patterns.

Source.

– On Friday in Oz, 65-year-old David Quinlivan was knocked off his surf ski at Black Head Beach (north of Forster) and bitten on the leg and foot. Being the only one in the water, he had little choice but to paddle himself in. Paramedics at the scene reported severe lower leg injuries, including cuts to his lower calf and a bite down to the bone on his left ankle. The Westpac Rescue chopper flew him from the beach to Newcastle’s John Hunter Hospital to undergo emergency surgery. NSW Premier Mike Baird said: “These attacks unprecedented, they’re extraordinary. They’re going to require action.”

Source.

– And just this morning… 42-year-old Justin Daniels was bitten on his hand and shaken from his board at Shelley Beach on the NSW Central Coast at about 6:15am. “It easily could have taken my hand or arm or come back for me,” Daniels told the ABC. “I am lucky. It was frightening.” Despite the attack taking place close enough to shore that it could easily have been a swimmer, Daniels said he had thoughts of Mick Fanning’s J-Bay encounter, given the fact he was knocked off his board and had to swim for it. Luckily his injuries weren’t life-threatening… but it certainly ain’t what you need during an early surf.

Source.

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

Laird Hamilton on The Limitations of Being a Purist, Invention vs. Ownership + Why He Never Had a Sticker Deal 

Untold stories from his How Surfers Get Paid interview.

Jul 4, 2025

Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico: Episode 3

"The tribe has spoken," Dane Reynolds pronounced, and a surfer's torch was snuffed.

Jul 3, 2025

When Surfer’s Eye Is Actually Cancer

Erin Campbell's brutal journey from surf camp dreams to chemo drops, cryotherapy, and surgical horror.

Jul 3, 2025

Surfing’s 2025 Q2 Report

An assessment of surfing's vital signs throughout the second quarter of 2025.

Jul 2, 2025

What Actually Happened to Occy’s Mad Max Plunger Pool In Yeppoon?

Surf Lakes’ brass talks: internet hecklers, the unplugging of the plunger, and the Tom Curren…

Jul 2, 2025

Poor Goofy Foots 

Data shows that the world is stacked against goofs — they even make 15% less money than…

Jul 1, 2025

Britain’s First Wavepool Has Closed — What Really Happened?

Bankruptcy, social media hackings, debts unpaid — and yet, reopening looms.

Jul 1, 2025

Watch: Was Matt Meola’s Air Actually Better Than Hughie’s?

Watch the full Swatch Nines highlight reel and decide.

Jun 30, 2025

Houshmand Bludgeons Field To Win Second CT — Molly Picklum Tastes Blood, Snatches World #1 In Brazil

You can't argue with big surfing — that's Saquarema wrapped.

Jun 29, 2025

37 Years Old And World #1 — What’s Changed For Jordy Smith?

On rediscovering decades old surfboard templates, having a personality on the CT, and why this…

Jun 27, 2025

Tom Lowe Stars in ‘Let Me Live’

The wild, improbable ascent of Britain’s best big-wave surfer.

Jun 27, 2025

Saq Wrap: Italo Celebrates Mid-Heat, Griff Drops A Freestyle, Jordy + Yago Continue BBQing 20-YOs

Top seeds sow ruin, Final 5 starts to crystallize.

Jun 27, 2025

Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico: Episode 2

Our seven surviving surfers confront an oddly large California beach break.

Jun 26, 2025

SEOTY: The ‘Once-In-A-Decade’ Caribbean Swell That Kelly Slater Passed On

Michael Dunphy stars in Jimmicane's 'Blue Veil'

Jun 25, 2025

Who Owns Bingin? Legal Fight To Stop Demolition Begins

Eviction notices served for all businesses built on state land.

Jun 25, 2025

Tony Hawk Just Named Hughie Vaughan’s Internet-Breaking Air Because… No One Else Can

89% of our IG poll respondents claimed the 'stale fish flipper' was the best air…

Jun 25, 2025

German Surfers: AN INVESTIGATION

Truth is the light by which the world can see. 

Jun 24, 2025

“I Lost Everything I’ve Ever Owned, But This Board Came Back”

One month after the LA wildfires, a surfboard washed ashore.

Jun 24, 2025
Advertisement