A man is in stable condition after losing his leg to a white shark in New South Wales, Australia.
Toby Begg, 44, was surfing near Watonga Rocks Aug. 25 off Lighthouse Beach, Port Macquarie.
Begg was near other surfers when a photographer took a photo of a large disturbance in the water. A few seconds later an estimated 13-foot (4m) white shark grabbed Begg’s leg.
Witnesses said the father of two fought the shark for around 30 seconds as it bit his upper and lower leg.
Despite heavily bleeding, Begg was able to swim 164 yards (150 m) back to the beach where an off-duty doctor treated his wounds with the help of other Good Samaritans. Bystanders said Begg was in shock and not speaking as they attempted to make a tourniquet using surf leashes and sticks.
Begg was airlifted to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle where he was listed in serious but stable condition. Unfortunately, doctors had to remove his leg.
His brother-in-law Chris Lenihan set up a GoFundMe to assist with the medical bills.
“Toby Begg was the victim of a 4m great white shark attack on 25 August 2023 at Lighthouse Beach, Port Macquarie, Australia. Thankfully an off-duty emergency doctor was on scene to assist him; however, his injuries are extremely serious and life changing,” Lenihan wrote.
“Toby is my sister Tracy’s loving partner and they have two beautiful children. He is a skilled builder, runs a business and is the family bread winner. It is very early stages and the full extent of his injuries are being uncovered however, he will require many surgeries and has years of rehabilitation ahead of him.”
Lighthouse Beach is unpatrolled at this time of year, with regular surf lifesaving patrols due to start for school holidays in a few weeks’ time.
Port Macquarie Hastings Council has 15 smart drumlines deployed along the region’s coast, with two drones and a listening station also deployed to detect tagged sharks.
During this period of the year, Lighthouse Beach is not monitored as the customary surf lifesaving patrols are slated to commence in a few weeks’ time to coincide with the upcoming school holidays.
Several white sharks have been captured and tagged this month by smart drumlines in the vicinity including a 7-foot (2.28 m) shark tagged and set free at the nearby Shelly Beach, followed by a 9.7-foot (2.96 m) shark tagged and released at North Shore Beach on Saturday.
The Port Macquarie Hastings Council has taken proactive measures to enhance safety by deploying 15 intelligent drumlines along the coastline of the region according to the Guardian. In addition to this, the deployment includes two drones and a listening station, all geared toward detecting tagged sharks.
Two other watergoers lost their lives in shark attacks in the country this year.
Simon Baccanello, 46, was killed in South Australia May 14.
The schoolteacher was surfing with several others, including children, when a white shark appeared. Baccanello calmed the children and directed them to swim back to shore. Witnesses said an estimated 10-foot long (3m) white shark grabbed the teacher from behind and drug him under the water. Only pieces of Baccanello’s surfboard were recovered.
Stella Berry, 16, was killed by a bull shark while swimming with friends in Swan River, Western Australia.
All locations have been marked on the 2023 Shark Attack Map.
