Shark Attacks in California & Australia This Week Leave Surfer Without Leg, Swimmer Mauled

A surfer who was surfing south of Perth in Western Australia on Tuesday was attacked by a shark that bit off his leg and broke his surfboard in half.  He is currently in critical condition in the hospital.  The surfer was Ben Gerring, 29, and he was surfing in Mandurah when the attack occurred.  Local reports say that Ben was resuscitated before being taken to the hospital.  He has undergone surgery.

“He was right out the back looking to get a big wave, one of the set waves that had been coming through during the day.”

“He’d sort of paddled out the back, sort of past the pack slightly. And next thing all hell broke loose and they were trying to bring him in.”

“His board was broken in half, they found the tail part of his board.” – Brian Williams, president of the Mandurah Boardriders Club and friend of the victim, told ABC.

On May 29th, a California woman was attacked by a shark while swimming at Corona Del Mar State Beach near Los Angeles.  Maria Korcsmaros, 52, was training for an Ironman competition while swimming 150-yards offshore.

Maria underwent surgery to repair severe lacerations to her shoulder, pelvis, arm, and chest.  Doctors report that she lost about a liter of blood (the human body only contains 5 liters of blood).  Doctors credit the incredible shape she is in to her survival.

“She had significant open wounds on her upper body and on her pelvis.  Those are wounds that would have bled a lot, and she was able to tread water and hold her own until help arrived. That’s pretty remarkable.”

“We’re a trauma center, we see trauma every day,but I haven’t seen this type of trauma.” – Doctor Philip Rotter, a trauma surgeon where Maria was treated

The shark wasn’t seen nor identified but Chris Lowe, head of Shark Lab at Cal State Long Beach, the size and shape of the wounds were consistent with the bite of a 10-foot-long Great White Shark. 

Due to the shark attack, a 3-mile stretch of Newport Beach was closed temporarily.  

Please don’t forget that shark attacks are very rare.  Humans reportedly kill 100 million sharks per year.  Sharks kill about 5 humans per year.