Shark attack survival: lessons from one surfer's experience

A surfer recounts a 2004 encounter at Redgate Beach and calls for a local web-based Shark Alert System to share sightings and warnings.

A surfer describes a close encounter while surfing at the south end of Redgate Beach in 2004 and reflects on what was learned. The account emphasises that sharks are highly evolved predators and that encounters can be very quick. The author says locals often pass sighting information informally but that not everyone is informed. The piece proposes a web-based, self-monitoring Shark Alert System and a Shark Aware Program to improve public information. Key points: - The author reports being approached by wildlife and then noticing a large shark, making it to shore and feeling shaken after the incident. - Sharks are described as efficient predators with a long evolutionary history, and attacks are often rapid, commonly lasting 15 seconds or less. - The article notes a recent southwest Western Australia sequence where a near-miss at Gas Bay was followed days later by a fatal attack, highlighting how local knowledge may not reach all visitors. - The author proposes a localised, web-based Shark Alert System with social media links and voluntary local monitoring, while acknowledging legal and duty-of-care questions. Summary: The account underscores that shark encounters can be sudden and that sighting information is often shared informally among locals. The author recommends a web-based Shark Alert System and a Shark Aware Program as ways to improve public awareness. Undetermined at this time.