Incident Report
Bull Shark Bites Kneeboard Rider in Brisbane River
Brisbane, Queensland·Australia
A 23-year-old man fell from a towed kneeboard on the Brisbane River and was bitten on the thigh by a 1.5-meter bull shark. He was rescued by his companions and treated for moderate wounds requiring 20 stitches.
Please take a moment to consider the human impact of this event on the victim and their loved ones. The data presented here documents real events that affected real people and families.
Why this is notable
This incident occurred approximately 70 kilometres upstream from the mouth of the Brisbane River in tidal, murky freshwater — a rare inland river setting consistent with bull shark habitat penetration far from open sea, giving it scientific interest as a documented example of bull shark activity deep within a river system.
Incident Profile
Circumstances
Environmental
Individual
Location
Description
On January 9, 1994, a 23-year-old male from outer suburban Ipswich, Queensland, fell from a kneeboard being towed behind a ski boat on the Brisbane River at Karana Downs Reach, approximately 70 kilometers upstream from the river's mouth. As he began swimming freestyle toward the boat, a 1.5-meter bull shark made contact with him, biting him on the back of his thigh where the hamstring is located. The victim described the encounter vividly, noting that he felt the shark swim directly into him, gripping his thigh firmly. He characterized the bite sensation as similar to skin being torn with a blunt object, and remarked that he was surprised by the ferocity of such a relatively small shark. The victim responded instinctively by striking the shark with his fist, forcing it backward. He then felt contact with the shark again near his ankle before calling urgently to his companion in the boat for assistance. The rescue was swift. His friend helped pull him back into the boat, with the victim later recalling that he seemed to "walk on water" in his urgency to escape the water. The bite wound was saucer-sized, with some tooth marks penetrating nearly four centimeters deep. Initial first aid on the boat involved applying pressure with a towel; while bleeding was minimal at first, it increased subsequently. Medical treatment required approximately 20 stitches to close the wound. The incident occurred in murky river conditions at the tidal section of the Brisbane River, with a new moon phase occurring just three days later on January 12, 1994. The attack was classified as unprovoked, as the victim was simply attempting to return to the boat after an accidental fall.