A shocking incident unfolded as a foilboarder was forcefully ejected from the water by a gigantic shark, sending him soaring through the air in a terrifying encounter that was captured on camera.
Andy McDonald was enjoying his routine surf session at Prevelly Beach in Western Australia when a massive shark approached him around 5:45 pm on November 10. McDonald had taken his foilboard, equipped with a hydrofoil and water wings for increased speed, onto the waves with a wingfoil sail.
Surveillance footage recorded the moment the foilboard was dragged underwater, with McDonald attached to it by a wrist leash that became entangled with the shark.
Cameras at the surf spot captured the foilboarder struggling in the water next to the enormous shark after being struck by the animal, describing the impact as being hit “like a freight train.” Recounting the experience to 9News Australia, McDonald mentioned how the shark “propelled” him into the air, making him feel as though he was “riding on top” of the shark.
Despite the intense struggle with the shark, the 61-year-old McDonald managed to fend off the animal and emerged from the water unscathed. He recounted his actions, stating, “I was just punching it and kicking, and I was basically panicking.”
Although McDonald escaped without injury, his beloved foilboard suffered a significant bite, visible in photos showing the craft had been severely damaged. Neil Mattinson, a friend of McDonald, shared that the severity of the situation likely dawned on McDonald once they reached shore.
While details of the incident remain somewhat unclear, the specific type of shark involved in the attack on McDonald remains unidentified. Efforts are underway to extract DNA from the board to determine the shark species, with a shark advisory issued for the beach where the incident occurred, although it remained open.
Despite the harrowing experience, dedicated surfers, including the resilient 61-year-old foilboarder, wasted no time getting back into the water the day after the shark encounter.