Horrific details emerge after shark mauls man in front of son: 'Wall of teeth'
An Aussie spear fisherman has recounted how a three-metre bull shark latched onto his arm and attempted to “rip a good chunk of flesh out” while in waters off Western Australia.
Robbie Peck, along with his brother-in-law, friend and four-year-old son, had taken his boat out in Port Hedland for one last trip before selling it when the group ran into trouble on October 7.
“Whether it was out of instinct, sixth sense or habit, but I just happened to look over my left shoulder and as I did I saw a giant mouth, wide open [and] full of teeth, just streaming at me,” the father of three told 7News.
“This shark was coming in at full charge, which for a bull shark is around 40 kilometres per hour, or 10 metres per second.”
As it bit down on his left arm, Mr Peck, who was 13 metres below the surface, recalled how the shark’s teeth sank into his skin “like a hot knife through butter”.
With “a massive shark hanging off” his arm, the experienced diver was unable to punch it, so he did the only other thing he could think of.
“I just gave it the loudest roar I could muster and fortunately for me that gave it a bit of a fright and it let go of my arm,” the 38-year-old told 7News, detailing how the shark tried to tear off a chunk of his flesh by shaking its head.
But as the predator swam off, Mr Peck’s arm was left dragging along the shark’s bottom jaw, cutting up his tendons, arteries and nerves.
'I needed to survive'
With “a lot to live for”, Mr Peck’s fight for survival kicked in.
Holding his arm, he made his way to the surface where his brother-in-law pulled him out of the water.
“I kept thinking, I don’t wanna die here in front of my four-year-old son,” Mr Peck said.
“I can’t put him through that. I was determined not to and I needed to survive for my family.”
The men used a weight belt and spear gun to fasten a tourniquet for his arm before racing towards the boat ramp, 13 kilometres away, where paramedics were waiting.
The father of three was later flown to Royal Perth Hospital where he spent 12 days undergoing multiple surgeries.
While he still has a long way to go in his recovery, Mr Peck said he is grateful to be alive and still have his arm.
Despite the attack, he added that the near-death experience won’t keep him away from the ocean.
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.
