Surfer Attacked By Two Great Whites Says Prayer Saved Him

A South African surfer who survived an attack by two great white sharks as a teenager said he paddled back to safety with one hand after being pulled underwater at Nahoon Reef in East London, South Africa, as reported by The New York Post.

Shannon Ainslie, now 41, was 15 years old when the attack happened on July 17, 2000. Ainslie, from Jeffreys Bay, South Africa, said he was surfing at Nahoon Reef when two sharks struck, grabbing his board and pulling him below the surface.

Ainslie said the area is known for strong waves, but surfers also know sharks can be present.

“Nahoon Reef has some of the best waves in South Africa, but everyone knows there is sharks there, so you have to watch out,” Ainslie said.

He said other surfers began leaving the water after sharks were spotted during the session, but he stayed out to catch more waves.

“It was half an hour into our surf, people started getting out of the water because someone had spotted sharks,” Ainslie said. “The other surfers paddled into the beach, but I just stayed out to catch some more waves.”

Moments later, Ainslie said two sharks attacked.

“Two sharks attacked me. One hit me up into the sky and grabbed my board, pulling me under the water,” he said.

“He had bit the top of my board, which means half of his bite was taken away by the fin of the board, but he caught my fingers,” Ainslie continued.

“The second shark came on my right side but missed his bite because I was already being dragged down,” he said.

Ainslie said he came face-to-face with one of the sharks after it released him.

“Then the shark let go, and we ended up just staring at each other, face to face,” he said. “I remember staring into this dark eye and seeing its teeth. I didn’t understand what was happening; it felt like a dream.”

Ainslie said he believed he might not survive the attack.

“I honestly thought I was going to die. I was crying, panicking, saying ‘Please Jesus, keep me safe.'”

After being dragged about 100 meters from shore, Ainslie lay on his board and paddled in a zig-zag pattern with one hand in an attempt to deter the sharks and reach the beach.

He made it back to shore, where others helped stop the bleeding before he was taken for medical care. Ainslie said he received 30 stitches and was discharged the morning after the incident.