Witnessing A Shark Attack Will Haunt You

Stab has an affliction with shark stories. We spent this week covering not one, not two, but three. And, when Stab received an email from Angus McColl thats title read  “I WATCHED A SHARK ATTACK AND IT FUCKED ME UP” our hearts sank. Angus was witness to the attack on Marcel Brundler, a Victorian man, whom survived a three metre Great White Shark whilst surfing Cathedral Rock on the 29th of August. Angus emailed Stab to offer his spectator perspective:

It was a magnificent day at Cathedral Rock. My Buddy and I were trading waves with three others for about an hour. As I made the paddle around the keyhole to shore, I turned to the watch the waves. There was a commotion. I witnessed a man (Marcel) shouting “GET OUT” to other surfers around him. Roughly 10 meters from where I paddled ashore lurking in the shallows was a shark and it was right next to Marcel. I stood on the shelf and examined the size of his opponent. Marcel doesn’t stand a chance. This guy is dead. 

I prepared to see Marcel literally get ripped limb from limb. Surely to die right in front of me and there is nothing I could do. I stood frozen, clutching my board, with water dripping down my face, as this beast circled. It stopped, right in front of Marcels path to the rocks. With no where for him to go, the shark made it’s attacked. Marcel lunged his board towards it. The shark clutched, wrapping its jaws around his board and hip. Sandwiched between its jaws, he started punching the beast furiously. I remember all the water splashing around and the yelps of other surfers scrambling towards safety. There was a small wave approaching, and it was only 10 meters to safety. Marcel clocked the shark right in the nose and it released. He hurried for his board and caught that wave. It drove him straight over to the rocks. He was safe. I couldn’t believe it.

Since the attack, I can’t surf with less than four people. I previously enjoying surfing till dark, paddling ashore whilst lights turn on in the distance. I’m worried those days are gone. I went for this one surf, in a little cove with no one around. Conditions were right handers with punchy bowls on the inside. I paddled out. For the entirety of the session my head wasn’t there, I scoured the waters edge, heart pulsated and my head felt like it was about to burst, I couldn’t surf. I probably just need to give it time though. I have always respected the ocean but never, until recently, been truly afraid of it. 

* Angus’s account of the attack was two weeks later, Stab would like to thank him for his submission and wish Marcel a speedy recovery. 

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