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”.

read full story at heraldsun.com.au

photos via heraldsun and abc news

There is a new buzz in the landscaping world — residential gardens that incorporate beautiful plants that thrive in our local climate and limit the necessity for irrigation and maintenance. The Surfrider Foundation and landscaping expert Douglas Kent have taken this concept a step further to include simple design ideas that will dramatically reduce runoff from properties that pollute creeks and beaches in a new manual available now for novice and expert gardeners: Ocean Friendly Gardens: A How-To Gardening Guide to Help Restore a Healthy Coast and Ocean.

Taking cues from the Surfrider Foundation’s “Ocean Friendly Gardens” program, the book describes how green-thumbs can help restore our precious oceans by applying simple practices to their gardening and landscaping routines including CPR – conserving the use of water, fertilizers and pesticides, increasing permeability so the landscape or garden holds more water, and developing water retention areas.

“With a growing trend of creating beautiful gardens that used native plants and other ‘climate-adapted’ vegetation, we wanted to show people how they could also help reduce water pollution,” said Chad Nelsen, Surfrider Foundation’s Environmental Director. “The result is a fantastic program

The Surfrider Foundation’s “Ocean Friendly Gardens” program developed from members’ personal contributions to their gardens and landscapes in an effort to restore and protect our oceans, waves and beaches. The results were unique and beautiful residential gardens that attracted the admiration and curiosity of the community.

Ocean Friendly Gardens: A How-To Gardening Guide to Help Restore a Healthy Coast and Ocean is available now at Amazon.com

A great white shark has attacked Eric Geiselman (New Smyrna Beach) while he was surfing off Laguna Road, Santa Cruz.

The 21-year-old pro surfer’s board was broken in half.

When he felt he was under attack, Geiselman paddled fast to shore, as he was 50 yards from the beach.

Later, the O’Neill Cold Water Classic California, held very close to the shark attack, got an alert call from the Floridian, who was also competing in the event.

Eric Geiselman, his brother and some friends were not injured.

TRANSWORLD’S TEXT CORRESPONDENCE:

We first heard about the incident via a text message from Etnies team manager Joey Daroza, here’s that conversation:

From Joey Daroza (Etnies Team Manager) to TransWorld SURF’s Scott ‘Desi’ Desiderio:
Geiselman just texted and said he can’t make dinner. A Great White shark ran into him and broke his board!

Naturally, Desi texts Eric Geiselman…

From Desi to Eric Geiselman:
You OK Buddy? I heard you had a close call!

From EG to Desi:
Yeah, was so nuts!!! The thing came up from underneath me and broke my board in half. So sketchy!!!!!!!

From Desi to EG:
Holy crap! You OK?

EG to Desi:
Luckily!!! Just trippin’ still, thank God!!!!]

video and text from transworld