Spearfisher Severely Bitten by Great White off South Australia

Rodney Fox's 1963 Great White attack — involving extraordinary injuries (exposed rib cage, punctured lungs, 462 stitches), a remarkable survival, and his subsequent career as a globally recognised white shark researcher and conservationist — is one of the most extensively documented and consequential shark incidents on record, directly shaping scientific and public understanding of the species.

On December 8, 1963, a spearfishing competition was underway approximately 55 kilometers south of Adelaide off Aldinga Beach, South Australia. The incident occurred in the Indian Ocean at the edge of a deep drop-off, where water depth ranged from seven to eighteen meters. At 12:45 in the afternoon, with approximately one hour remaining in the competition, a 23-year-old male competitor and reigning South Australian Spearfishing Champion was struck by a great white shark with tremendous force on his left side. The impact knocked his mask away and he immediately recognized he was in the shark's mouth. In his account, the diver described the attack in vivid detail: the initial strike surged him through the water with enormous force, followed by a sensation of his insides being compressed. He reached behind attempting to locate the shark's eyes, which caused the shark to release him momentarily. His arm inadvertently entered the shark's throat before he broke free and kicked toward the surface. The shark continued to pursue him, pursuing the spearfished catch attached to his belt via a float line. The shark grabbed the float, dragging him downward approximately 10-12 meters before the line parted, allowing him to surface. A support boat nearby heard his distress call and immediately retrieved him from the water. The injuries sustained were severe: his torso, including his rib cage, stomach and lungs, were bitten and punctured, while his hand and arm were torn to the bone. First aid responders appropriately did not remove his wetsuit, instead keeping him bent forward to maintain pressure on his wounds. He reached hospital in Adelaide within one hour of the attack and underwent surgery, requiring 462 stitches to repair his injuries. Remarkably, he returned to diving within three months and went on to become one of the world's foremost authorities on great white shark behavior.