A man who was attacked by a Great White shark while surfing proudly displayed the 11-inch scar left on his body as a result of the incident. Lee Berryman, the victim, recounted the terrifying experience that took place at D’Estrees Bay, Kangaroo Island, Australia, on October 7. Initially mistaking the shark for a Bronze Whaler, Berryman later confirmed it was a Great White that had bitten him. Following the attack, he drove himself to the hospital as reported by the South Australia Police.
Shark Watch South Australia (SWSA) estimated the shark that bit Berryman to be around three meters long based on the 10-inch bite mark on his thigh. Berryman’s surfboard was damaged during the attack, and he shared images of his extensive scar that required over 50 stitches. Recounting the incident, Berryman mentioned that the shark had bitten him once and described the encounter as the shark “chomping” on him.
Upon examination, it was discovered that the teeth marks on the surfboard were too wide to belong to a Bronze Whaler, confirming that they matched those of a Great White shark. Berryman recalled the moment the shark grabbed him while he was swimming, prompting him to defend himself until the shark released its grip. He expressed familiarity with the waters of D’Estrees Bay, where he has been surfing for 43 years and engaging in Cray dives.
Despite the ordeal, Berryman is on the path to recovery, though he experiences discomfort when sitting for prolonged periods. SWSA mentioned that Berryman will be featured in a special public broadcast called ‘Sharks Cast,’ where he will share his experience. Berryman emphasized that he holds no ill will towards sharks, reiterating his long-standing relationship with the waters of D’Estrees Bay.
According to the Australian Shark Incident Database, there have been an average of 20 shark incidents annually over the past decade, resulting in an average of 2.8 fatalities each year and seven incidents where individuals escaped unharmed.