Mel Ismail, a surfer and professional firefighter, described his experience during a shark attack that occurred on September 14 at Glenfield Beach near Geraldton, Australia. In an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corp., Ismail recounted how he jabbed at the shark's eye in an attempt to fend it off after it severed his leg. He initially thought he had been hit by a dolphin when he spotted a pod of about 20 dolphins before being attacked.
Ismail stated, "I thought I got hit by a dolphin, initially," and then described the moment when he realized it was a shark, saying, "And suddenly — bang — something grabbed me and dragged me down into the water. And I knew it was a shark." He noted that he saw the shark's eye and attempted to push it as he was being pulled underwater.
Authorities have not yet identified the species of shark involved in the attack. After the incident, Ismail managed to catch a wave that brought him closer to shore, where he was rescued by fellow surfer Shannan Dunn. Ismail described Dunn's reaction upon seeing him, stating, "The first thing he (Dunn) said to me is, ‘Where’s the shark?’"
Once back on the beach, bystanders assisted Ismail by applying a tourniquet and calling for an ambulance. He expressed gratitude for the support he received, saying, "I had a heap of people laughing, keeping me alive, keeping me positive in the back."
Four days after Ismail's attack, another incident occurred when 63-year-old swimmer Greg O’Neill was fatally mauled by a shark off Sorrento Beach, approximately 250 miles south of Geraldton. Ismail plans to return to the water as a bodyboarder. According to the Australian Shark Incident Database, there have been five fatal shark attacks in Australia this year, with an average of two to three fatal attacks annually since 2000.