'It nearly took my leg off': British grandfather on holiday in Australia 'grabbed shark by tail to save bathers'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A British grandfather on holiday in Australia is being hailed as a hero after he grabbed a shark by its tail and tried to drag it away from people playing at the edge of the sea.
Paul Marshallsea, 62, from Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales, was on a beach north of Brisbane in Queensland when a siren was sounded to warn of a shark in the water.
Mr Marshallsea ran to the shoreline and grabbed the 2m (6ft) shark by the tail.
A local TV crew, who happened to be filming on the beach, captured the moment the Welsh grandfather turned shark wrestler.
Mr Marshallsea and another man were filmed grabbing the shark and attempting to push it back out to sea.
But as the shark thrashed to free itself, Mr Marshallsea fell into the waves, and the creature turned and snapped its jaws just inches from his leg.
Mr Marshallsea said: "It just missed me with a bite, which was a fraction away from my leg. A shark that one minute ago was so docile now just nearly took my leg off."
Mr Marshallsea said his "instincts took over" when he saw a number of young children in the water, the Daily Mirror said.
Holidaymakers on the beach watched as Mr Marshallsea and another man attempted to encourage the dusky whaler shark to head back out to sea.
"It's shallow for about six yards where the shark was and a lot of babies and toddlers splash about there," Mr Marshallsea said. "It could have been very nasty.
"My instincts took over and I grabbed the shark by the tail. I know it was dangerous but it almost looked beautiful. You have to respect a beautiful animal.
"When I dragged the shark to just over knee-deep, he turned on me and just missed me with a bite. It nearly took my leg off in a split second. It was that quick."
The incident, which was reported to have happened at Bulcock Beach in Caloundra, about 55 miles (88km) north of Brisbane, was witnessed by Australian lifeguard Luke Turner.
Mr Turner told Sky News he and a colleague had been following the shark around all morning before it swam into the bathing area.
"We chased it away and called in the helicopter for back-up. Then a few hours passed and it happened to come back in.
"A British tourist jumped into the water as well as a wildlife rescue guy, and they pulled it back out to sea.
"Me and my partner proceeded to follow it back out through the channel while it swam back out to sea."
The shark was reported to have been a 6ft (1.8m) dusky whaler shark, a species which rarely attacks humans.
Wildlife experts reportedly said the shark may have been so close to shore because it was sick or injured and so was stressed and disorientated.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments