’IT WAS A TERRIFYING MOMENT’

A SHARK attack kit hangs from a post in the carpark where surfers get changed at Skulpiesbaai Nature Reserve in South Africa’s Western Cape, further along from Jeffreys Bay.

Local surfers know how to use it because it’s had to be used before. On that occasion, 18 months ago, the surfer survived. Just.

I researched shark attack stats before taking my family to visit relatives at Stilbaai, and for me to enjoy four weeks of surfing the African coastline.

The International Shark Attack File lists the US first with 1104 unprovoked attacks (35 fatal), Australia second with 536 (72 fatal) and Africa third with 346 (94 fatal) since 1958.

I convinced myself it would be safe. But Africa is a long way from Burleigh Heads, literally and psychologically. I could not get the image of Mick Fanning being hit at J-Bay from my mind.

The beaches here are uninterrupted stretches of natural beauty, devoid of human habitation. Often it was just me out in the water. And always it felt kind of ‘sharky’.

It was day two that the first shark surfaced 20 metres away from me, moving parallel to the coast. The next day it was 10 metres away, but this time heading directly for me.

It was a terrifying moment. I’ve seen a shark up close at Burleigh before, but on that occasion I was surrounded by the usual crew, and the lifeguards promptly closed the beach and called in the jet skis.

This time I was on my own. The shark rode the wave I had been sizing up, and I have no doubt it had one thing in mind. Me.

I turned tail and made for the shore, belly-riding the white water. I later told the story to Craig Sims, a Bond University colleague and owner/publisher of Surfing Life magazine. Craig grew up on African beaches. He gave me simple advice. “I wouldn’t have surfed there.”

Thanks Craig.