An experienced West Australian surfer has shared the terrifying details of a shark attack that launched him into the air off the coast of Prevelly, near the renowned Margaret River surf region.
The Moment of Impact
Andy McDonald was enjoying a session with friends at the popular Boat Ramps surf break on Monday when the incident occurred. Speaking on Mix94.5’s Pete & Kymba with Ben Cousins for Breakfast, McDonald described using a wing foil board—a surfboard equipped with a hydrofoil and a handheld sail.
As conditions calmed and the wind eased, he dropped down to the water's surface. "The wind dropped out a little bit, so I’d actually dropped off the foil, so my board went down to water level. I wasn’t going fast—I’m pretty much just like a normal board," he explained. He was positioned in a deep channel between two surf breaks when the attack happened without warning.
Catapulted Into the Air
"Out of the blue, it felt like a freight train ran into me," McDonald recalled. The force of the impact was so immense that it catapulted him into the air before he crashed back into the water. He landed directly on top of the shark, confirming his immediate suspicion of a shark attack.
Reacting instinctively, McDonald punched the shark while onlookers on the shore began screaming and shouting as they realised the gravity of the situation. In a state of panic, he managed to use his inflatable sail for buoyancy, spreading his arms across it to stay afloat as he drifted back towards the shore, yelling for help.
Back in the Water
Despite the horrifying encounter, which sent bystanders scrambling, McDonald's spirit remains unbroken. He has already made plans to head back for a swim on Tuesday and a surf on Wednesday, demonstrating a surfer's resilience. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the inherent risks of ocean sports in regions like Margaret River, known for its world-class waves and marine life.
