Shark attacks a person’s paddle board at Yallingup Main Break

Phil Hickey and Brianna DuganThe West Australian
VideoA shark has taken a bite out of a paddleboard in the State’s South West this afternoon, with authorities saying they are investigating after a 1.5m shark was spotted in the area just after 3pm.

The 75-year-old man who was knocked from his board while paddleboarding in Yallingup has shared the moment he came face-to-face with one of the ocean’s deadliest predators.

Gary May, a surfing veteran, took to Facebook to share the moment he was hunted by a two-metre shark just after 3pm this afternoon.

“Halfway out in the deep water...kneeling up paddling, my board was struck suddenly with enough force to fling me forward and onto a head that had the whole rail in its mouth,” Mr May wrote.

Head-to-head with the sea creature and 400 metres away from land, Mr May flung himself back on his board, losing his paddle in the process.

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“Another surfer shot past me on a wave which tipped me off again. As he paddled back I warned him...” he wrote.

“I recovered my paddle five metres away. Back in the carpark someone called Sharkline and soon the Westpac helicopter was circling with sirens blaring to clear the water.”

Mr May returned safely to shore with no injuries — only bite marks from the shark on his board.

He said the worst part of his terrifying ordeal was not having a second board to go back out in the water tomorrow.

The Surf Life Saving helicopter circled the popular surfing beach in search of the predator this afternoon, alerting swimmers to evacuate the water.

Busselton Shire Rangers and Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions have closed the beach for 24 hours.

Fisheries officers are collecting DNA from the board and will conduct land patrols in search of the shark tomorrow.

Surfers and swimmers have been asked to take extra caution in the Yallingup Mainbreak Surfing Spot area.

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