SYDNEY - An Australian surfer was recovering Thursday after being dragged under the water by a shark that sliced his leg open then circled him as he screamed for help in a scene witnesses said was “like Jaws”.
Tattoo artist Glen Folkard, 44, was catching waves off Redhead Beach when a two-metre (6.5 foot) shark attacked on Wednesday afternoon in front of dozens of stunned swimmers.
Witnesses said the animal took a large chunk out of Folkard’s thigh as well as his board before dragging him under.
He managed to shake himself free and with the help of fellow surfers paddled back to shore trailing blood as the shark circled. He was then taken to hospital where on Thursday he was stable after surgery.
“It was kind of like Jaws, you know, the scene at the start... where everybody’s pulled out of the water and it’s a hot day and the water’s inviting,” a witness, named only as Peter, told the Sydney Morning Herald. “My son actually said he saw the shark leap out of the water and grab a fish. The word is it was a bull shark. “His (Folkard’s) skin was really grey, he obviously lost quite a lot of blood.” Bull sharks are a medium-sized species known for their aggression and tendency to attack humans. Around 500 people were on the popular family beach at the time, with about 100 in the water, reports said. Another witness, Tony James, said: “It’s just hit him and took him under for a bit. “He’s managed to get to the surface but I saw it start to follow him.” Rescue helicopters began air patrols after the attack and spotted several large groups of sharks nearby with beaches in the area closed.