We’ve heard of a bad idea biting you on the arse before, but this is taking things quite literally.
“We were paddling for a wave, or just going over the lip of a wave, and then the shark’s come up the back and tried to grab hold of his arse.”
Hirst explained that Fernandez then made attempts to fight the shark off before the curious critter swam away.
“He’s tried to bash it off and it kept swimming up … a few guys saw the tail like splashing around.”
“The shark was pushing itself on top of him. He was on a boogie board, so like lying down with his feet in the water, and it’s come up the back and the tail’s been smashing him on the leg.”
Fernandez was assessed at the scene, but his injuries fortunately did not require any medical treatment.
“There’s a few small like puncture wounds under his arse cheek. He’s super lucky … if it’d been down a bit lower it’d be a different story, I think.”
According to state park authorities, the breed of shark involved in the attack was not known.