The victim and his board. Photo: 7News Western Australia
Talented Western Australian surfer Max Marsden was surfing Lucy’s Beach, south of Geraldton on Sunday when things got terrifying. A reported 1.5-meter bronze whaler attacked Marsden, latching on to his arm and board. Lucy’s Beach is remote, and his friend helped get him out of the surf and then drove him to a waiting ambulance on a main road.
Marsden reportedly underwent surgery for the injury yesterday and friends told local media that he had “bits of teeth still in his arm.” Ala fellow Australian Mick Fanning at J-Bay, Marsden reportedly had to throw punches at the shark to get it to release him. The shark apparently ripped muscle from his bone. Marsden is expected to recover.
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If you’re wondering, Geraldton is about seven hours north of Margaret River, where the World Surf League is currently hosting the Margaret River Pro. You might recall that in 2018, Margs was cancelled after two surfers were mauled near the contest site. That was a series of unfortunate events as the contest lined up with the annual salmon run, as well as several whale beachings that attracted predators.
A bronze whaler, copper shark, or narrowtooth shark, is a species found mostly around South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia and can grow up to 11 feet in length.
