Surfers Surviving Shark Attacks and Lightning Strikes

Surfing tales can sometimes be compared to fishing stories which often relate to “the one that got away”, or the size of the fish caught on a fishing trip. Surfers have been known to exaggerate the size of the waves and descriptions of rides and wipe-outs. Many also tell tales (true and false) of surfing with dolphins, whale encounters, shark sightings and close escapes.

Everyone in the surfing fraternity is aware of the recent close encounter between Mick Fanning and a shark. Everyone also knows that the events that took place during this attack are true because the entire incident took place during a surfing competition in South Africa and was captured live by camera. This has been viewed by millions of people around the world and can therefore be verified as a true story.

Although the detail of circumstances relating to other shark attacks on surfers cannot be proven by live footage of the event, these reports are supported by the injuries inflicted on the surfer. It is also worth noting that some of the survivors of these occurrences owe their lives to fellow surfers who risked their own lives to rescue the victim of the attacks. Another surfer who survived a shark attacks in Australia this year is 51 Year old Craig Ison. Craig was attacked while surfing at Evans Head near Ballina. Craigs board had large puncture marks left by the shark and managed to fend off the large shark with a series of punches. A fellow surfer used his board as a stretcher and Craig was rushed to hospital with severe puncture wounds to his right hand, hip and thigh

Another rare event that can kill a surfer while he is enjoying the waves is lightning strikes. Lightning strikes are a real threat to surfers, however there are a couple of simple actions that can reduce this possibly deadly event. Obviously the best action is to get out of the water at the first sign of lightning. A rule of thumb that a lightning strike is imminent is the Australian Standard on lightning protection known as the 30/30 rule. When the flash-to-bang count reaches 30 seconds or less the bolt of lightning causing the sound is less than 10 kilometres away, so get out of the water. If you are unable to get out of the water, crouch low in the centre of the board. Do not lay flat. Keep your hands on your knees and lower your head without allowing it to touch the board. Surfers should not return to the waves until at least 30 minutes after the last sighting of lightning.

If you are close to a surfer who has been struck by lightning he may appear dead and may have stopped breathing and have no pulse. However, the surfer may be able to be revived by using CPR. There is no danger to the person helping a surfer who has been .struck by lightning.

Surfers have been known to tell tales of lightning striking the water centimetres from where they were surfing, but again these stories are difficult (if not impossible) to verify. However, one such report (8 November 2015) has now been verified by onlookers, police and paramedics. A German surfer is in a critical condition at the Tweed Heads hospital after being struck by lightning near Byron Bay.

In 2002 several surfers were struck by lightning while surfing in a competition in the UK.  One surfers was struck in the arm and experienced severe pain in the head, while a second was knocked unconscious and was rescued and resuscitated by fellow surfers. A third surfer stopped breathing when struck and was revived by a doctor at the scene before being rushed to hospital in a critical condition.

Every sport has dangers, and that includes surfing. The best way to eliminate being struck by lightning while surfing is to leave the water at the first sign of a storm. There will always be more waves to ride but you only get one life to ride them.