Surfer in his 50s seriously injured after shark bites board in Western Australia

Mel Ismail, a regular surfer in his 50s, was bitten by a shark while riding waves at Glenfield Beach, a popular holiday spot near Geraldton in Western Australia, at roughly 9:45 am. He was taken to hospital with serious but stable injuries, and his surfboard was found ripped apart and is being examined to identify the shark involved. Police and fisheries staff cleared the wreckage and the beach remains closed to swimmers and surfers.

Geraldton MP and Shadow Fisheries Minister Kirrilee Warr has asked for more details and urged a reassessment of the state’s shark-mitigation strategy, noting the high cost of current measures. Residents, including Cadeyn Catton, voiced concern, recalling that the beach has felt safe for years despite occasional minor incidents. This attack follows two fatal shark incidents in Western Australia earlier this year and adds to a total of four shark-related deaths across Australia this year.