Shark Tried to Drag Him Out to Sea 2
A FATHER who grabbed hold of a rock as a shark tried to drag him out to sea has told how he won the battle of wills.
Paul Welsh was surfing with his 10-year-old son Saxon close to shore on a Sydney beach yesterday when the shark attacked.
“I was pushing my son on to waves and it just belted me from behind,” Mr Welsh said.
“I grabbed on to the pinnacle of a rock and held on as it tried to drag me out … and I won.
“I’m all right though, but it was p—ing out with blood.”
Mr Welsh, 46, was bitten on the left leg by the 1.6m shark off Mona Vale about 8am.
After pulling himself on to the rocks, he was able to walk to the beach carpark where his wife, Kaaren, drove him to hospital.
One of the shark’s teeth was removed from the 15cm wound, which Saxon proudly showed off outside the hospital. Surfwatch Australia director Michael Brown, who witnessed the attack, said the shark hit Mr Welsh “like a freight train”.
Whoa, now that is a story worth telling! Thank goodness Paul was okay and his son Saxon safe!!!
It is easy for everyone to judge. But you all need to know why I said it might be a small white shark.
I do acknowledge I repeated the statement and should have been more careful not to create panic in the community.
First, I said to the media and I quote
“I am not sure if it was a Great White but it looks like the shark has come from under the guy, it’s launched straight up into him, knocked him up out of the water. He grabbed onto a rock and the shark was trying to drag him back into the water”
this was word for word the statement I made less than an hour after the attack on ABC radio. I have a recording of this conversation and will make it available for review to anyone.
What made me think it was a small 1.8 to 2m Great white. I have seen several Great Whites off the Northern beaches over the past couple of weeks so I knew they were around.
I spoke to Paul the victim minutes after he was out of the water and he said to me that the shark launched strait up at him from bellow and hit him with an incredible force. Paul then said the shark latched on to him and was shaking it head as it tried to drag him back into the water. This is in line with the way Great Whites attack. Wobbygong sharks do not attack like this as far as I knew.
After inspecting the bite on Paul’s leg I saw a lot of blood and what looked to be deep bite marks on both sides of his lower leg.
At no stage did I ever say it was definitely a Great White, the media just ran with it and before I knew it the story was out of control.
A short time after the attack I went up in the Surfwatch chopper and photographed three sharks around 2m swimming in less than 2 feet of water at Avalon beach. The channel 7 helicopter also photographed a 2m shark off Mona Vale beach close to where the attack took place, so the evidence for a small white shark was growing.
It was not till later in the arvo we found out it was a Wobbygong. By this stage Paul had sold his story to the media. Nether I or any member of Surfwatch received any profit from the story nor did we sell or profit from the sale of any photos.
It was not my intention to cause panic but at the time I did believe it could be a small Great White. I know there were more sharks about. So I am glad people stayed out of the water for the day.
Based on the evidence and the fact I knew there were dangerous sharks in the area. I did what I thought was right. I am disappointed my comments caused so much concern but I believe I did the right thing based on the evidence I had.
On a personal note I was in the water less than 40m from where Paul was attacked. It was a shock for me and the fact I had my 13yo son with me made it even more of a shock. I see sharks all the time with my work and I don’t want to see anyone else attacked. So I guess I am a bit over sensitive when it comes to sharks on our beaches.
Cheers
Michael Brown