Shark bites swimmer at Bondi

2007-12-15 13:35

Sydney - A shark attacked a swimmer at Australia's Bondi Beach, leaving him with deep bite marks on his arm before he fought it off by punching it on the nose, local media reported on Saturday.

Channel Ten news said Scott Wright was enjoying a Friday night swim at the Sydney beach, which attracts thousands of tourists every day, when he felt the shark latch on to his arm.

Wright told the network that he fought off the shark, then made his way to shore but passed out on some rocks, where his girlfriend found him hours later on Saturday morning.

"The shark attacked me, grabbed hold of my arm and wouldn't let go," Wright told Ten. So I ended up punching him in the nose and trying to fight him off.

"I thought I was a goner, I thought I was going to die."

Ten reported that it was believed to be the first shark attack at Bondi Beach in 70 years.

Bondi lifeguards told the network that they often saw sharks in deeper water but rarely close to the beach.

One lifeguard, who didn't give his name, said Wright could have been killed if the shark had been bigger.

"That's a shark," the lifeguard said, referring to Wright's arm injuries.

"Not a big one, because he wouldn't have had his arm left."

Wright was expected to undergo surgery on his arm on Saturday night.

- AFP