A teenager has had a lucky escape after a large shark took a bite out of his surf ski while he was racing one kilometre offshore south-west of the Adelaide CBD.
Nathaniel Drummond, 19, was taking part in the South Australian Ocean Paddlers series at Seacliff Beach on Sunday when he was flung out of his surf ski by a shark, which may have been a great white.
“My ski just kind of lifted above the water, and then the next thing I knew I was in the air,” he told Nine News.
“Then I was in the water and I saw this figure just kind of fall back into the water – a big shark.”
Drummond ripped his leg rope off after the attack and swam towards his fellow competitors, who then pulled the young man onto their surf ski and helped him return to land.
While shaken, the 19-year-old was uninjured. His ocean ski now bears a gaping hole thanks to the shark’s bite, which occurred directly underneath where the teen was sitting.
The shark tore through a large part of Nathaniel Drummond’s surf ski on Sunday.
His parents watched on during the attack, hugging the boy tightly once he returned to the shore.
Claire Drummond stated online she was thankful for the paddlers around her son who “just jumped in without any hesitation and pulled Nat to safety”.
“Your quick thinking was best on ground,” she said on the South Australian Ocean and Surf Ski Paddlers Facebook page.
Surf Life Saving South Australia’s Daniel Willetts said the culprit may have been a great white shark, measuring up to three metres in length.
“It’s a timely reminder to always swim where surf lifesavers can assist and to always be in the water with a mate in case you get into trouble,” Surf Life Saving SA said on Facebook.
Seacliff Beach was closed on Sunday due to the attack and the ocean ski race was abandoned.
The South Australian Ocean and Surf Ski Paddlers association said those nearby when the attack happened should be “commended for their quick actions” when rescuing the teen.
“The support provided to Nat was first class and reduced the risk of anything else occurring,” the group said on Facebook.
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