Teen spearfisher Lucas Martin fights off shark at Avalon Point, Mandurah
A Mandurah boy has told of the terrifying moment he fended off a two-metre shark by punching it in the nose.
Lucas Martin's family say they were able to quickly warn others, thanks to a beach numbering system championed by the family of shark attack victim, Ben Gerring.
Lucas had only seconds to react as the shark approached him while he was spear fishing off Avalon Point late yesterday.
The 14-year-old believes the shark was chasing the fish he had just speared when it headed towards him.
“This shadow was fastly approaching me, and it actually turned out to be a shark,” he said.
“I was really scared at that moment.
“I just (hit the shark) to its nose and it just went away.”
The teenager immediately scrambled up to the reef to warn others of the predator.
His close encounter took place near where Mandurah surfer Ben Gerring was fatally mauled by a shark in 2016.
Back then, emergency services had difficulty locating the spot on a confusing Mandurah coastline.
His brother Rick Gerring successfully lobbied to have emergency numbers placed on local beaches last year and the BEN system was introduced.
Lucas alerted Water Police of yesterday’s shark using the BEN system and authorities tweeted warnings almost immediately.
Mr Gerring says this isn't the first time his brother's legacy has helped others or saved lives and hopes more coastal councils will adopt the numbering system.
https://thewest.com.au
“A Shark bite is only one of many possible endings to a Shark Attack”
“An UNPROVOKED Shark Attack is only one of many types of Shark Attack”
Caution:
When you see the words Unprovoked or Bite associated with Shark Attacks, someone is trying to hide shark dangers you may face should you enter the water. In most cases, the word unprovoked equals the number of incidents shared with the public. Any other type of Shark Attack is kept a secret from the public.
“An UNPROVOKED Shark Attack is only one of many types of Shark Attack”
Caution:
When you see the words Unprovoked or Bite associated with Shark Attacks, someone is trying to hide shark dangers you may face should you enter the water. In most cases, the word unprovoked equals the number of incidents shared with the public. Any other type of Shark Attack is kept a secret from the public.
02/02/2018 - Lucas Martin - Australia
02/02/2018 - Lucas Martin - Australia
USE COMMON SENSE
A simple explanation of the word unprovoked is chosen to be shared. Each year shark attack researchers choose certain shark attacks they share with the public. The ISAF website states, “All of the data publically available on the ISAF website is from unprovoked incidents.” Ocean users, beware that the ISAF has 6800 incidents on file, with only 3292, or 47%, being chosen to be shared with the public. In 2019 they chose 45%, and in 2020 they only chose 44% of the investigated incidents.
A simple explanation of the word unprovoked is chosen to be shared. Each year shark attack researchers choose certain shark attacks they share with the public. The ISAF website states, “All of the data publically available on the ISAF website is from unprovoked incidents.” Ocean users, beware that the ISAF has 6800 incidents on file, with only 3292, or 47%, being chosen to be shared with the public. In 2019 they chose 45%, and in 2020 they only chose 44% of the investigated incidents.