Kyle encounters shark
A SHARK attack survivor has told of the moment a large tiger shark rammed his kayak, spearing him into the water before “locking’’ its teeth on his craft.
Sunshine Coast man Kyle Roberts was fishing about 1.5km off Moffat Headland early yesterday when the 4m shark struck his kayak.
Mr Roberts, 31, said there had been “zero warning’’ of the attack and the conditions had been relatively calm.
“It hit side- on with such force it ejected me and flipped the kayak. I landed in the water about 2m away and looked to see it locked on to the middle part ( of the kayak),’’ he said.
“It let go and disappeared. I swam over and inspected the damage.
“I could put my fingers in the holes left by its teeth.’’
Despite the shock of the attack, Mr Roberts righted his kayak and climbed back on and then grabbed his radio attached to his lifejacket.
His first call was to two nearby kayakers to alert them of the attack and request assistance.
He then switched quency and contacted frethe Coast Guard, which received the call at 5.45am and mobilised Surf Life Saving Queensland’s after- hours emergency response group, which launched jet skis from nearby Kings Beach and began a search.
They found him clinging to his craft just after 6.30am and transported him to Kings Beach, where he was assessed by QAS officers.
Yesterday afternoon, another shark was spotted at nearby Caloundra, and the beach was closed.
Mr Roberts said he wanted to stress that he had the utmost respect for all ocean life, including sharks, and he did not believe in culls or hunting the creatures.
He said the ocean was their environment and education, not destruction, should be the message.
The recent attacks in Cid Harbour had created hysteria surrounding sharks, Mr Roberts said.
“I have had a very lucky day, that’s for sure. But I don’t think the shark had any interest in me. It did not come back,’’ he said.