Surfer vows to 'get back in the water ASAP' after mauling by shark off NSW coast
Channel: Break News Today
Date: 2016-12-01

A surfer in his 60s who was mauled by a shark on the NSW Mid North Coast has vowed to get back in the water as soon as he's able, despite suffering a severe leg injury during the attack.

Colin Rowland was bitten by what is believed to have been a great white shark measuring between 2.5 and 3.5 metres while surfing at Seven Mile Beach, south of Forster, just after 9am.

The attack on the first day of summer left the 65-year-old with severe puncture wounds to his foot, leg and arm, police say.

But footage shows Mr Rowland arriving at Newcastle's John Hunter Hospital giving a thumbs-up to cameras while strapped to a stretcher.
Mr Rowland's son James posted a photo of his dad to Facebook just eight hours after the attack, saying his dad will be "back in the water ASAP."

"Just letting everyone know dads doing pretty dam good considering!" James wrote.

"And he wants thank everyone for their love and support . We are still waiting for the surgery on this foot but he'll be back in the water ASAP xxx."
Friend Greg Preston told 9NEWS he watched on in “terror” as was “dragged under the water” by the predator.

"He's taken a chunk out of the surfboard and also grabbed his leg rope and dragged him under the water so you know, all in all a very lucky man,” Mr Preston said.

"I just saw Colin, me mate, get launched out of the water, about three or four feet, in a big cloud (in the) water

“The terror in his eyes was unbelievable, and then he got knocked again and then his board got shattered into a few pieces."

Despite his injuries, Mr Rowland managed to swim to shore following the attack and call for an ambulance before being airlifted to hospital.

Shark experts will try to determine the species and size of the shark by assessing photographs of the wounds and Mr Rowland's board, which was bitten in half with a large chunk taken out.

In response to the attack, NSW Minister for Primary Industries Niall Blair has instructed the DPI to deploy five drumlines in the area of Forster, including off Booti Booti National Park.

The drums will be set tomorrow, weeks after the Baird government oversaw the controversial installation of shark nets in Ballina following several attacks.

"These drumlines are part of the $16 million strategy we have in place to better protect swimmers and surfers, in conjuction with other measures we have in place on the North Coast, including increased drone and aerial surveillance, the DIP shark tagging program, VR4G listening stations, the SharkSmart Twitter feed and app, and the trial of shark nets around Ballina," Mr Blair said in a statement.

"As we head into the summer period, we understand the risk to communities is higher. Incidents like this one impact the whole community and we will continue to test and implement a range of technologies to protect beachgoers."

A drone operator will also be on site over the weekend to provide extra aerial surveillance.

The last shark incident was in October when 36-year-old surfer was bitten on the upper thigh while surfing between Suffolk Park and Broken Head beach near Byron Bay.

Two weeks before that a 25-year-old surfer drove himself to hospital after he was bitten at Sharpes Beach in Ballina.