Surfer Bitten by Great White at Margaret River, Australia

The attack occurred during the Margaret River Pro surfing competition, involved a multiple-bite encounter with a witnessed rescue by fellow surfers, was accompanied by a second separate shark incident the same day approximately one kilometre away, and directly led to the World Surf League cancelling the remainder of the professional competition — a significant real-world consequence with strong documentation.

On the morning of April 15, 2018, an unprovoked shark attack occurred at Cobblestones reef near Margaret River in Western Australia's Indian Ocean. A 37-year-old male surfer from Argentina, working as a crew member at the Margaret River Pro competition, was attacked shortly before 8:00 AM while surfing with approximately five other surfers in the area. Witness accounts describe a large shark swimming among the surfers before attacking the victim. According to eyewitness Brett Newland, the shark "swam under a couple of guys and came around and bit a third person." Observers reported seeing the shark's fin and tail as it breached during the attack. The victim fought off the initial assault, but the shark returned and dragged him underwater before he managed to catch a wave toward shore. The response from fellow surfers was immediate and coordinated. Multiple surfers paddled out to assist the victim, helping him away from his board and leg rope. Once in shallow water on the reef, the rescuing surfers applied tourniquets using leg ropes to control bleeding from lacerations to both legs. Additional beachgoers carried him on a surfboard to the carpark where emergency services were waiting. The RAC Rescue Helicopter transported the patient to Royal Perth Hospital's State Trauma Unit, arriving shortly after 10:30 AM. Environmental factors at the time included a waning crescent moon (1% illumination), sea surface temperatures of 71°F, and recent reports of a decomposing whale carcass at nearby Lefthanders that may have attracted sharks to the area. The incident had significant consequences for the local surfing community. Beaches in the Gracetown area, including North Point, Big Rock, and Lefthanders, were closed following the attack. A second shark incident occurred approximately one kilometer away later that day, leading the World Surf League to cancel the remainder of the Margaret River Pro competition.