Shark attack survivor says as he was trying to poke its eye, the shark winked at him, then bit his leg off
Shark Attack in Western Australia Leaves Surfer With Lost Leg
A 56‑year‑old surfer was bitten and dismembered by a shark off the coast of Glenfield Beach in Western Australia last month, and he is now fighting for a long‑term recovery after losing part of his right leg below the knee. The attack was carried out while he was paddling alone in the surf, and he was rescued by a second surfer who arrived on the beach at the exact moment the shark struck.
Mel Ismail, a resident of the nearby town of Albany, told Australian broadcaster ABC News that he was initially confused by a pod of dolphins that had gathered in the area. “I thought I got hit by a dolphin, initially, because there were so many of them,” he said. “No, it wasn’t, something grabbed me and dragged me down into the water. And I knew it was a shark.”
Ismail described the moment he saw the shark’s eye and the sensation that the animal “winked” at him before it closed his leg. “I got to a point where I saw its eye,” he said. “It had a big black eye, and I was trying to get my finger into. I knew it had my leg.” He later added, “I personally reckon it gave me the wink, and then shut my leg off, and I knew it had taken my leg.”
A surfer who had been at the beach at the time of the attack—his name has not been released—waded in to grab Ismail’s board and pull him to the shore. The second surfer was praised for risking his own life, but he was not immune to injury and was later treated for cuts and bruises caused by the shark bite.
The injured surfer was air‑lifted to a hospital in Perth, where Dr. Mary Pinder, the head of the intensive‑care unit, assessed his condition. “This person remains in a stable condition; however, he has sustained serious injuries and faces a long recovery,” Dr. Pinder said.
Ismail is now receiving rehabilitation for the loss of his lower leg. He has said that staying calm and focusing on survival were essential after the shock of the attack. “I tried to remain calm,” he said. “My goal was to survive.” He is currently receiving therapy and is expected to undergo a prolonged recovery period.
The incident has added to the growing number of shark attacks in Australia’s coastal waters over recent years, prompting officials to review safety protocols for surfers and beachgoers. While no immediate pattern has been identified, authorities are urging caution in open water and recommending that surfers stay in groups when possible.