Perth dad sailed kilometres back to land after being mauled by shark with injuries needing over 40 stitches
A WA father has spoken from hospital about his run-in with a shark north of WA.
Troy Brown was left with injuries on his ankle and needing more than 40 stitches after being bitten while foil boarding off Wedge Island, north of Lancelin.
The incident took place about 3pm (6pm AEDT) on Christmas Eve, as he and his family were holidaying off the Midwest Coast.
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A WA father has spoken from hospital about his run-in with a shark north of Perth. 9News
Troy Brown was left with injuries on his ankle needing 40 stitches after being bitten while 'foil boarding' off Wedge Island, north of Lancelin. 9News
The 46-year-old said he came off his board and felt pain, thinking he clipped his ankle, only to realise he "fell" into the shark's mouth - leaving him with more than 20 puncture wounds across his ankle.
"Straight into the water, like I fell straight into its mouth," he told 9News.
"Then I quickly realised the pain was on both sides of ankle, and I realised it wasn't the foil, so I put my feet on board and saw the injuries."
It was from a shark, believed to be a bronze whaler. Searching the water, he could not see the predator.
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The father, who is familiar with the holiday spot, raced the 2.5 kilometres back to shore. 9News
The father, who is familiar with the holiday spot, raced the 2.5 kilometres back to shore.
"I was watching the blood run out all over the deck of the board, cause it's concave there was a big puddle of blood on the board as I sailed all the way back," he said.
"I walked on my tip toes because there was a lot of soft sand so tired to keep my injuries out of the sand."
Hauling himself back to his shack, his wife and children were able to get him medical assistance. 9News
Hauling himself back to his shack, his wife and children were able to get him medical assistance.
He eventually underwent surgery at Joondalup Health Campus, where he is recovering.
Brown will spend the next two weeks recovering in his moon boot, then he's hoping to get straight back out in the water.
He eventually underwent surgery at Joondalup Health Campus, where he's recovering. 9News
"Look I was unlucky but I was also probably very lucky to get away with what I did, with the injuries I did," he said.
The dad's encounter is not the only one, with a tiger shark spotted circling a wake boarder off Whitfords Beach.
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