Shark attack victim received 50 stitches

EMMA SPILLETT
espillett@kiamaindependent.com.au

KEEN surfer Les Wade said there was uncertainty surrounding his next trip into the ocean, after he was bitten by a shark off Seven Mile Beach last Saturday.

The 52-year-old had just moved to Jaspers Brush after living in the Shellharbour area since the 1960s.

“I always used to surf at the Farm or Warilla beaches … they were my local beaches and it was only my third time at Seven Mile,” he said.

Mr Wade went surfing on Saturday about 7.45am and said he spent nearly an hour in the surf before the incident occurred.

About 8.30am, he caught a wave into shore and was turning his board around to catch another wave when he felt something hit him from behind.

“It hit me with a fair force … at first I thought it was another surfer jamming their board into my leg, but I knew it couldn’t be because I hadn’t seen anyone near me,” he said.

Mr Wade soon realised there was a 2m bronze whaler shark sitting stationary at the end of his board.

“He was just there, thrashing his tail from side to side … he wasn’t grey or white but a real khaki green colour and I realised later it was a bronze whaler,” he said.

Mr Wade said he paddled back out into the surf, looking for help.

“My first instinct was to go back out there … I knew there were about 20 surfers in the water so I just yelled out ‘I think a shark’s bitten me’,” he said.

Aided by other surfers, Mr Wade paddled back into shore to have a look at his injuries. He had to paddle back over the spot where the shark had been, “so I was a bit paranoid about falling off”.

“I wasn’t sure how bad it was when I was out there,” he said.

“I thought it was just a little nip and I could still paddle … I guess I was in shock and the body just counteracted it.”

Mr Wade said he pulled up his wetsuit when he went back to shore and realised the extent of his injuries.

“At first I could just see some damage to the top of my foot so the other surfers helped to wrap it up while we called an ambulance,” he said.

At Shoalhaven Hospital, the top and side of Mr Wade’s foot was given nearly 50 stitches.

“I was lucky it was just around the top of my foot … I could have lost a leg,” he said.

Mr Wade is now on crutches and is having antibiotics twice daily.

“The main concern now is infection … we’re not sure if I’m going to have to have skin grafts yet,” he said.

Surfing since age 13, Mr Wade said he had never encountered a shark in his many years catching waves.

“I’ve seen dolphins and killer whales, but they seem to just leave you alone,” he said.

“At first I thought I would head straight back into the water, but after reflecting and thinking, there is a bit of uncertainty there.”

Kiama Surf Life Saving Club captain Josh Douglas said surf-lifesavers and lifeguards had conducted patrols of the area after the attack and nothing was sighted.

Mr Douglas said sharks were always in the area as it was their habitat.