Incident Report
White Shark Incident During Surfing at Cape de Couedic, Kangaroo Island
kangaroo island, cape de couedic, South Australia·Australia
A 26-year-old male surfer sustained minor lacerations to his arm and leg in a white shark encounter at Cape de Couedic, Kangaroo Island, South Australia in September 2005. The shark was estimated at 5 meters in length.
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Incident Profile
Individual
Location
Description
In September 2005, a surfing incident occurred at Cape de Couedic on Kangaroo Island, South Australia, involving a white shark approximately 5 meters in length. The 26-year-old male victim sustained minor lacerations to his arm and leg during the encounter. The incident occurred in a coastal setting and resulted in a non-fatal outcome. Cape de Couedic, located on the southern coast of Kangaroo Island, is known for its dramatic rocky formations and cool southern waters—habitat favored by white sharks in Australian waters. This incident is consistent with white shark behavior in temperate Australian coastal zones, where interactions with ocean users, including surfers, remain relatively rare despite the species' presence in these regions.