Shannon Ainslie and the board with a bite in it. A surfer who was attacked by two great white sharks used a zig-zag paddle to get to safety - with just one hand.Shannon Ainslie, 41, was surfing in Nahoon Reef in East London, South Africa when the sharks grabbed his board and pulled him under water.One bit the top of his surfboard and caught Shannon's hand - chomping at two of his fingers and leaving them "hanging off".To get to shore Shannon, who was 15 at the time, lay on his board and paddled in a zig-zag through the water to deter the sharks.
Shannon Ainslie and the board with a bite in it. A surfer who was attacked by two great white sharks used a zig-zag paddle to get to safety - with just one hand.Shannon Ainslie, 41, was surfing in Nahoon Reef in East London, South Africa when the sharks grabbed his board and pulled him under water.One bit the top of his surfboard and caught Shannon's hand - chomping at two of his fingers and leaving them "hanging off".To get to shore Shannon, who was 15 at the time, lay on his board and paddled in a zig-zag through the water to deter the sharks.
Shannon Ainslie and the board with a bite in it. (Chicco Mattos via SWNS)
By Talker
By Lula White
A surfer who was attacked by two great white sharks used a zig-zag paddle to get to safety — with just one hand.
Shannon Ainslie, 41, was surfing in Nahoon Reef in East London, South Africa, when the sharks grabbed his board and pulled him underwater.
One bit the top of his surfboard and caught Shannon's hand — chomping at two of his fingers and leaving them "hanging off."
To get to shore, Shannon, who was 15 at the time, lay on his board and paddled in a zig-zag through the water to deter the sharks.
He went to the hospital and was given 30 stitches due to a hole in his right wrist, and his right ring and pinkie finger hanging off.
But despite the ordeal, Shannon was back in the water six weeks later and is now a surf coach.
Shannon, from Jeffreys Bay, South Africa, said: "Two sharks attacked me. One hit me up into the sky and grabbed my board pulling me under the water.
"He had bit the top of my board, which means half of his bite was taken away by the fin of the board, but he caught my fingers.
Shannon Ainslie surfing. (Chicco Mattos via SWNS)
"The second shark came on my right side but missed his bite because I was already being dragged down.
"Then the shark let go, and we ended up just staring at each other, face to face.
"I remember staring into this dark eye and seeing its teeth, I didn't understand what was happening it felt like a dream."
Shannon had been surfing on July 17, 2000, when the sharks were spotted.
He said: "Nahoon Reef has some of the best waves in South Africa, but everyone knows there are sharks there so you have to watch out.
"It was half an hour into our surf, people started getting out of the water because someone had spotted sharks.
"The other surfers paddled into the beach but I just stayed out to catch some more waves."
But moments later, the sharks attacked the teen.
Shannon Ainslie in his teens wearing a cast. (Courtesy of Shannon Ainslie via SWNS)
By Talker
He said: "My hand was just blood. My ring finger was hanging off, my pinkie was badly damaged and there was a huge hole through my hand.
"You could see right through to the bone in my wrist.
"I honestly thought I was going to die — I was crying, panicking, saying — please Jesus, keep me safe."
Miraculously, he paddled himself to shore with his injuries — after being dragged out 100 meters from the beach.
Eventually he made it to shore where a rope was tied around his wounds.
Shannon found himself the next day in the hospital with 30 stitches, and was discharged the morning after the incident.
That same day, Shannon found the incident was filmed by a foreign backpacker on the beach, and he watched back the attack.
He said: "It was crazy seeing the footage afterwards.
"Suddenly I was doing interviews and appearances everywhere. It was overwhelming because I was such a shy kid.
Shannon Ainslie surfing. (Chicco Mattos via SWNS)
By Talker
"I walked into assembly late when I was back in school and all 1,200 students just stared at me.
"The teachers even got me to speak to the whole school about what happened it was insane.
"I was such a shy school boy honestly, I was not used to all the attention. I just wanted to surf with my bros, and next thing I am off school after a shark attack.
"Everyone would treat me so differently, it was a lot to get used to — harder I would say than getting used to a shark bite."
Shannon returned to surfing six weeks after the attack, on the same day the cast was removed.
He said: "I was nervous, but strangely I was less afraid of sharks after the attack.
"Ripley's Believe It or Not wanted to film my first surf back, so I paddled out near the same spot with my brothers beside me."
Today, Shannon still owns the surfboard that saved his life — complete with a 40cm wide/55cm long bite mark that was thankfully deterred by the surfboard's fin.
He now uses the damaged board in motivational talks and presentations.
Shannon says surviving the attack gave him a new appreciation for life: "People think I should live in fear, but really I was given a second chance.
"That is one of the reasons I wanted to become a surf coach, to help other people enjoy life and the ocean.
"I had never been religious, but I prayed to Jesus when I was being attacked, and I have been a believer ever since.
"I will never forget the fear of that moment, but I still love surfing."
Commented