Yet another shark attack has occurred on NSW’s North Coast in the Ballina area, with a 52-year-old surfer fighting off a shark at around 6am this morning.
Craig Ison was surfing at Evans Head, and hadn’t even caught a wave yet when he spotted the shark in the water and warned other surfers. As the pack tried to paddle away, the shark attacked Mr Ison. It’s been reported that Mr Ison punched the shark and fought it off, before being helped to the beach by another surfer.
Mr Ison had suffered injuries to his legs and hands; two surfers and passersby made tourniquets using towels and legropes, assisting him until emergency services arrived.
He was transported to Lismore Base Hospital with serious injuries but in a stable condition, and is undergoing surgery.
The attack comes after recent beaches closures in the area due to shark sightings over the last few days. Earlier this month, a surfer was knocked off his board at Lennox Head, and a bodyboarder was mauled at Ballina two days earlier by what was believed to have been a great white. Back in February, 41-year-old Japanese national Tadashi Nakahara was killed by a shark at Shelly Beach near Ballina.
Just yesterday, 60 Minutes released a teaser for their latest exclusive, in which their reporter accompanies Mick Fanning during his first surf back since wrestling a shark in South Africa. But you’ll never guess what happens next… *Spoiler* Mick spots a shark:
