Wing Foiler Escapes Great White Shark Attack Off Exmouth

On March 10, 2026, a wing foiling incident off the coast of Exmouth, Western Australia, tested one man's composure under extraordinary circumstances. The incident occurred approximately 2 kilometers offshore between Graveyards and Hunters beaches at around 5 p.m., during what was intended to be a 15-kilometer foil-boarding run in the Indian Ocean. The wing foiler fell from his board while navigating a wave and was in the process of remounting when a suspected great white shark, estimated at approximately 3 meters in length, attacked. As the athlete reached for his board to climb back on, the shark bit down on the rear section of the foil board, pulling away a significant portion of the equipment. The encounter escalated when the shark nudged the mast and foil apparatus, knocking the man back into the water. For a brief moment, he found himself in close proximity to the predator in murky water conditions with limited visibility. The man described the incident as occurring with remarkable speed and stated he managed to reposition his leg as the shark made contact during the attack. Despite the severity of the encounter and the large size of the predator, the man remained composed enough to remount his damaged board. He successfully paddled approximately 9 kilometers back to Hunters Beach on the compromised equipment, which bore a substantial bite mark consistent with a great white shark's dentition. Remarkably, the man escaped the encounter without any physical injuries to himself. His foil board sustained considerable damage, with a clear bite-sized section missing from its structure. The incident was characterized as fortunate given the circumstances and proximity to the large marine predator.