British doctor in Australia saves himself from shark attack by punching it in face
Charlie Fry fended off the 6ft 6in long animal while out surfing with some friends
A 25 year old British doctor has escaped from a shark after “punching it in the face” while surfing in Australia.
Charlie Fry was at Avoca beach just north of Sydney when the shark “jumped out of the water and hit him in the right shoulder”, police said.
The shark “left scratches and a small puncture wound on Dr Fry's arm,” says the BBC. Police said the animal was about 2m (6ft 6in) long.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
“I turned to the right and I saw a shark’s head come out of the water with its teeth and I just punched it in the face,” Fry told local Nine Network's Today programme.
“(I) got back on my board, shouted at my friends who were there and then managed to catch a wave in. So it was a bit of a close call.”
Fry said he had been inspired by surfer Mick Fanning, who famously fended off a shark during a competition in 2015.
“Me and my friends have just started surfing, and we saw the YouTube clip of Mick Fanning saying he punched [a shark] in the nose,” he said.
“So when it happened I was like, ‘Just do what Mick did, just punch it in the nose’.”
He added: “If you are watching or listening, Mick, I owe you a beer. Thank you very much.”
Fry suffered minor scratches and bite wounds from the “hectic” encounter and was driven to hospital by his fellow surfers, who were also doctors.
A rescue helicopter service “later spotted a ten-foot shark near the site of the attack – a section of the beach known as ‘shark tower,’” says The Daily Telegraph.
Australia has had a spate of shark attacks in recent years, including one fatality and ten injuries this year.
Authorities closed the beach at Avoca and said surrounding beaches would be “closely monitored”.
Fry told Nine Network he wouldn’t be rushing back to the surf anyway.
“I probably wouldn’t go to that point for a while. It is called ‘shark tower’ for a reason, so I will probably just go somewhere else,” he said.
“I mean, the surf was rubbish. It wasn’t even worth it.”
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Why Man United finally lost patience with ten Hag
Talking Point After another loss United sacked ten Hag in hopes of success in the Champion's League
By The Week UK Published
-
Who are the markets backing in the US election?
Talking Point Speculators are piling in on the Trump trade. A Harris victory would come as a surprise
By The Week UK Published
-
Crossword: November 3, 2024
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Has the Taliban banned women from speaking?
Today's Big Question 'Rambling' message about 'bizarre' restriction joins series of recent decrees that amount to silencing of Afghanistan's women
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Cuba's energy crisis
The Explainer Already beset by a host of issues, the island nation is struggling with nationwide blackouts
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published
-
Putin's fixation with shamans
Under the Radar Secretive Russian leader, said to be fascinated with occult and pagan rituals, allegedly asked for blessing over nuclear weapons
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Chimpanzees are dying of human diseases
Under the radar Great apes are vulnerable to human pathogens thanks to genetic similarity, increased contact and no immunity
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies hang over Sydney's Mardi Gras
The Explainer Police officer, the former partner of TV presenter victim, charged with two counts of murder after turning himself in
By Austin Chen, The Week UK Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 24 February - 1 March
Puzzles and Quizzes Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will mounting discontent affect Iran election?
Today's Big Question Low turnout is expected in poll seen as crucial test for Tehran's leadership
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Sweden clears final NATO hurdle with Hungary vote
Speed Read Hungary's parliament overwhelmingly approved Sweden's accession to NATO
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published