WA teenager fights off two-metre shark by punching it in the nose
A Mandurah boy has told of the terrifying moment he fended off a two-metre shark by punching it in the nose.
Lucas Martin, 14, was spear fishing off Avalon Point on Thursday when he came face to face with the predator, who he thinks was chasing the fish he had just caught.
The quick-thinking teen only had seconds to react as the shark launched towards him.
“This shadow was fastly approaching me, and it actually turned out to be a shark,” he said.
“I was really scared at that moment.
“I just [hit the shark] to its nose and it just went away.”
Lucas was able to poke the shark in the nose with his spear, which was enough to move the creature along, before scrambling up to the reef to warn others.
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His close encounter took place near where Mandurah surfer Ben Gerring was fatally mauled by a shark in 2016.
Back then, emergency services had difficulty locating the spot on a confusing Mandurah coastline.
His brother Rick Gerring successfully lobbied to have emergency numbers placed on local beaches last year .
Beach numbering, called the Ben system, has since been introduced.
Thanks to the Ben system, Lucas and his family were able to quickly alert the Water Police of the danger in the water, and authorities tweeted warnings almost immediately.
Mr Gerring says this isn't the first time his brother's legacy has helped others or saved lives and hopes more coastal councils will adopt the numbering system.
