Mandurah shark attack sparks renewed calls for state government to adopt drumline technology

About 8.50am, 20-year-old Albany bodyboarder Noah Symmans was off Pyramids Beach when he was bitten on the leg by an unknown species of shark.

Mr Symmans was paddling near the Wedge break when the creature latched onto his calf, leaving him with four puncture wounds.

In those adrenaline-pumping moments, the Great Southern man managed to pull himself up to the rocks and signal for help.

He was airlifted to Royal Perth Hospital by the RAC rescue helicopter where he was treated for his injuries.

The attack was a bitter reminder of the dangers beach-goers face off Mandurah.

It was the third attack along that section of coastline in the past three years, which includes the tragic death of local surfer Ben Gerring at Gearies Beach in Falcon in 2016.

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Despite the initial shock of the incident, Mr Symmans said he remained positive.   

“For a second I thought I was gone but it was over quickly so I was pretty positive that everything was going to be okay,” he told the Mandurah Mail.

“I went into attack mode with my other foot and tried to stomp it. Either that saved me or the shark didn’t like the taste of me because it released my foot quite fast.

“It could have been a lot worse.

“You always hear of attacks or sightings but you never think it will happen to yourself or someone you know.”

Mr Symmans said he believed sharks were in the forefront of most surfers’ minds.  

“The thought of sharks is always on your mind when you’re surfing, particularly when you’re by yourself or with minimal crew in the water,” he said. 

“I think everybody knows the dangers… WA is well known for its shark activity.

“The likelihood of an attack happening is still really low, even though it has increased in recent years, but it’s not enough to keep keen ocean goers out of the water like myself, because the ocean brings us happiness and good times.”

Mandurah local Tracey Marinkovic was standing on the rocks when the shark attacked. 

“He handled it pretty well really,” she said.

When Mr Symmans got out of the water, Ms Marinkovic said he looked composed and “kept it together”. 

“He said ‘I’ve just been bitten by a shark’ and his foot was pretty bloody,” she said. 

“His friend then ran and got the surf life saving crew and I just sat with Noah until they came up.”

Mr Symmans thanked those who assisted him.

“Everyone who helped me should know that they are legends,” he said. 

Dawesville MP Zak Kirkup watched on as the chaos unfolded at Port Bouvard Surf Life Saving Club.

“Like most Western Australians, I was particularly shocked to see that yet another shark attack had occurred off our coastline,” he said.

“Very disappointing” was how Mr Kirkup best described the government’s approach to Shark Management Alert in Real Time (SMART) drumlines and mitigation tactics in WA.

Since the incident, the Dawesville MP has revived his calls that Mandurah should be including in the SMART drumline trial that is being conducted in Gracetown.

However, WA Fisheries Minister Dave Kelly has hit back at the MP and stuck to his party’s stance that they did not see the merit in automatically deploying drumlines.

“If Zak Kirkup and the opposition were serious about improving safety in our oceans they would stop discouraging surfers from purchasing a scientifically proven personal shark deterrent and encourage their NSW colleagues to provide us with the full data set from their SMART drumline trial,” Mr Kelly told the Mandurah Mail. 

“We have already committed to a trial of SMART drumlines in Gracetown to assess if this technology is effective in reducing attacks.

“Key water user groups Surfing WA and Surf Life Saving WA support our Gracetown trial, and our comprehensive shark mitigation strategy.”

A day prior to the attack on Mr Symmans, the minister had announced a suite of new measures as part of the McGowan Government's enhanced comprehensive shark mitigation strategy.

The “world-leading” strategy included partnering with Surfing WA to educate surfers on how to keep safe, undertaking a new Independent Scientific Advisory Panel on sharks, enabling the development of a new SharkSmart app, collaboration across government whale carcass management and refreshing the SharkSmart website.

Mr Kirkup remained firm that more needed to be done to protect beaches.

“When I wrote to the Fisheries Minister, Dave Kelly, requesting that Mandurah be including the SMART drumline trial the state government is conducting, I received a very disappointing response. Dripping with condescension and arrogance that shows no care or regard for the people of Mandurah and the impact that shark attacks are having on our community,” Mr Kirkup said. 

“This was not a response fitting of a minister. Enough is enough, more needs to be done.”

Several people at the scene told the Mandurah Mail the attack was particularly concerning as children were participating nearby in the Mandurah Board Riders’ Junior Summer Series.

Grommets were due to take to the water less than 10 minutes after authorities were informed of the attack. 

The beach was closed for the 24 hours after the attack as crews patrolled the area.

The Department of Fisheries will investigate what species of shark attacked Mr Symmans.

What to have your say on mitigation tactics in WA? Email our team via editor.mandurahmail@fairfaxmedia.com.au.

Follow Caitlyn Rintoul on Twitter via @caitlynrintoul.