A day that dawned peacefully in Cabarita Beach (New South Wales) turned around when a great white shark It surfaced and slashed a local surfer's board with enormous force, splitting it in two. The victim, identified as Brad Ross, managed to return to shore. no injuries, although visibly shaken.
The incident occurred early in the morning, around 7:30, while Ross sat waiting for his wave. Witnesses in the water, including Kym Falvey, described a sudden blow from behind and a loud crash as the board broke; images of the surfer were shared on social media. holding the two fragments in the sand.
This is how the incident happened
According to the stories, the shark charged from the rear and table “exploded” in the water, with foam and fiber debris dispersed in seconds. A companion rowing nearby confirmed the attack speed, which happened to a few meters from the shore.
The equipment manufacturer, Jason Jamesson, stressed that the board was more robust than usual - reinforced with fiberglass - and yet the bite crushed it in one go, a sign of the enormous force of the animal.
Ross tried to downplay the moment, nervously assuring that the loss of the board hurt him more than the scare, although those who helped him emphasized his clear state of shock upon leaving the water.
Several witnesses on the beach pointed to a large specimen and, due to the shape of the damage, to a White shark as responsible for the attack, an extreme that was shortly after supported by the aerial surveillance.
Response from the authorities
El Tweed Shire Council and Surf Life Saving NSW immediately activated the protocol: preventive closure of the beach, warning signs y deployment of surveillance drones to monitor the affected area.
Shortly after, aerial devices detected a White shark about 4,9–5 meters prowling around Norries Headland, very close to the point of the attack. The animal was captured and later released by a SMART Drumline, a technology that allows sharks to be intercepted and tagged without causing harm.
As a reinforcement, they added more SMART lines on the coast, raising the number of active teams and prolonging the surveillance during the morningThe beach remained closed while security checks were completed.
Reactions and context
The episode stirred the local surfing community and rekindled the debate about the safety in areas with shark presenceOn social media, some users joked about the shark's "mouthful of fiberglass," while others reminded everyone of the importance of not normalizing the risk.
Surfing figures such as Kelly Slater They celebrated the surfer's unharmed escape and emphasized that the board often acts as a "small barrier" to the unpredictability of the open sea, a reflection shared by many in the community.
Experts point out that the whale migration season It often brings large predators to the coast due to the abundance of food. Other incidents have been reported recently on the same beach, which has led to a increased patrols and warnings in the zone.
Basic water safety tips
Authorities recommend extreme caution and following simple guidelines that reduce the risk in areas where the presence of White shark.
- Avoid sunrise and sunset, times of greatest activity for predators.
- Do not enter alone and prefer patrolled beaches with active alert systems.
- Reduce contrasts (very flashy outfits or accessories) and stay away from schools of fish.
- Pay attention to the signs and the warnings from lifeguards and official applications.
The rapid reaction of emergency services, drone tracking and the use of SMART Drumlines They avoided major damage after an attack that split a board in two and recalled that, in Cabarita Beach, coexistence with marine fauna requires prudence, information and respect through the middle.
