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| Craig Ison shark attack: Australian surfer punches shark in 'Mike Fanning replay' | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| An Australian surfer repeatedly punched a shark after it attacked him off the coast of New South Wales. | An Australian surfer repeatedly punched a shark after it attacked him off the coast of New South Wales. |
| Craig Ison was bitten, reportedly by a bull shark, on his leg and arm during the incident off Evans Heads. | Craig Ison was bitten, reportedly by a bull shark, on his leg and arm during the incident off Evans Heads. |
| He was taken to hospital, where he is understood to be in a serious but stable condition. | He was taken to hospital, where he is understood to be in a serious but stable condition. |
| The 52-year-old was surfing 100 metres from the shore when he spotted the shark and shouted to friend Geoff Hill to get out of the water. | The 52-year-old was surfing 100 metres from the shore when he spotted the shark and shouted to friend Geoff Hill to get out of the water. |
| The New South Wales Police Force said Mr Ison was bitten by the shark on his left leg and knocked off his board. | |
| He then “punched the shark in an attempt to scare it away” and was bitten on his left arm during the struggle on Thursday. | He then “punched the shark in an attempt to scare it away” and was bitten on his left arm during the struggle on Thursday. |
| Mr Ison made it to shore, where passers-by used surfboard ropes to tie a tourniquet around his leg. | Mr Ison made it to shore, where passers-by used surfboard ropes to tie a tourniquet around his leg. |
| Earlier this month, Mick Fanning, an Australian three-time world champion, escaped unharmed after punching a shark during a competition in South Africa. | Earlier this month, Mick Fanning, an Australian three-time world champion, escaped unharmed after punching a shark during a competition in South Africa. |
| Mr Hill said seeing his friend's attack was “like watching a Mike Fanning episode in replay”. | Mr Hill said seeing his friend's attack was “like watching a Mike Fanning episode in replay”. |
| Mick Fanning escaped from a shark in the final round of the JBay Open surfing event He told the Australian Broadcasting Corp: “The white board went up in the air, the tail was thrashing around. | Mick Fanning escaped from a shark in the final round of the JBay Open surfing event He told the Australian Broadcasting Corp: “The white board went up in the air, the tail was thrashing around. |
| “He got in a couple of punches.” | “He got in a couple of punches.” |
| Beaches in the area were closed following the incident. | Beaches in the area were closed following the incident. |
| Earlier this month, bodyboarder Matt Lee, 32, had surgery after being bitten on both legs by a great white shark off nearby Ballina. | Earlier this month, bodyboarder Matt Lee, 32, had surgery after being bitten on both legs by a great white shark off nearby Ballina. |
| In February, 41-year-old Japanese tourist Tadashi Nakahara was killed by a shark at Shelly Beach in Ballina. | In February, 41-year-old Japanese tourist Tadashi Nakahara was killed by a shark at Shelly Beach in Ballina. |
| The latest attack also comes after a similar attack on Saturday, off the state of Tasmania, where diver Damian Johnson, 46, became the second victim of a fatal shark attack in Australia this year when he was mauled by what was believed to be a great white shark. | The latest attack also comes after a similar attack on Saturday, off the state of Tasmania, where diver Damian Johnson, 46, became the second victim of a fatal shark attack in Australia this year when he was mauled by what was believed to be a great white shark. |
| Surfer fights off shark in "Mick Fanning replay" attack at Evans Head, NSW. http://t.co/xDQBLxFeuw pic.twitter.com/wHgHK5HzBN | Surfer fights off shark in "Mick Fanning replay" attack at Evans Head, NSW. http://t.co/xDQBLxFeuw pic.twitter.com/wHgHK5HzBN |
| Sharks are common off Australia’s beaches, but fatal attacks are rare. | Sharks are common off Australia’s beaches, but fatal attacks are rare. |
| On average, the country has suffered fewer than two deadly attacks per year in recent decades. | On average, the country has suffered fewer than two deadly attacks per year in recent decades. |
| Additional reporting by AP | Additional reporting by AP |