Surfer Mel Ismail was attacked by a shark while surfing alone at Glenfield Beach near Geraldton on Monday, Sept. 14, and was taken to hospital in a “serious but stable” condition. Witnesses and nearby surfers rushed to help; teenagers fashioned a makeshift tourniquet from a surfboard rope until emergency crews arrived. The City of Geraldton temporarily closed part of the beach and warned swimmers to avoid the area while authorities investigate. Local lawmaker Kirrilee Warr called for better clarity on shark mitigation efforts and offered support for first responders.
Well-Known Surfer Mel Ismail Hospitalized After Shark Attack at Glenfield Beach
Shark attack at Glenfield BeachCredit: ABC News (Australia)/Youtube
Surfer Mel Ismail was hospitalized after a shark attacked him while he was surfing off Glenfield Beach near Geraldton, Western Australia, authorities and local media report.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development responded to a shark incident on Monday, Sept. 14, following a report at about 9:45 a.m. local time on the Western Australian government’s shark-tracking website. Ismail — described by a local lawmaker as a well-known member of the surfing community — was reportedly surfing alone when the shark struck.
Witnesses Rush To Help
According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and 9 News, other surfers and beachgoers rushed to assist. One witness told 9 News he saw Ismail waving for help and then noticed blood in the water. A group of teenagers improvised a tourniquet using a rope from a surfboard until emergency responders arrived.
Photos taken soon after the incident show what appears to be a large bite mark on Ismail’s surfboard. A witness speaking to 7 News recalled someone arriving on a quad and saying, “Someone’s most probably lost their leg or got knocked off their board by a shark.”
Medical Condition And Local Response
Medical staff at the hospital told 9 News that Ismail was in “a serious but stable condition,” though officials have not disclosed the full extent of his injuries. Following the attack, the City of Geraldton temporarily closed a section of Glenfield Beach and warned recreational water users to stay away while authorities investigate.
Local lawmaker Kirrilee Warr described Ismail as a “well-known surfer amongst the community” and said the close-knit town has been affected by the incident. Warr also called for greater clarity on shark mitigation measures, saying, “We know millions of dollars is being poured into this mitigation strategy, but it simply is not good enough to stand there and say, ‘We have this strategy,’ but not know if it works.” She later posted her sympathies on social media for Ismail, his family and the first responders involved.
Local health and natural resources officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Media coverage of the event appeared in outlets including ABC, 9 News, 7 News and PEOPLE.
Note: Authorities continue to investigate the incident and the city has advised the public to avoid the area while safety checks are conducted.
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