A thrilling encounter unfolded at Cabarita Beach, located in northern New South Wales, as surfer Brad Ross had a close brush with a four-metre great white shark on Monday morning. Despite his surfboard suffering extensive damage, Brad miraculously escaped unharmed.
Shocking Shark Encounter at Popular Beach
Beachgoers witnessed Brad Ross thrashing in the water just before 8 a.m. The sight sent shivers down the spines of locals, still haunted by a previous attack on a 16-year-old boy by a two-metre shark just six weeks earlier. Fortunately, Ross managed to make it to shore safely, though his surfboard was split in half by the force of the shark’s bite—a sobering reminder of the ocean’s unpredictability.
Photos shared on social media revealed the extent of the damage to Ross’ surfboard, with a large chunk bitten off. Witnesses claim to have seen a massive four-metre great white shark near the beach during the incident.
Beach Closure and Drone Surveillance
In response, Tweed Shire Council quickly closed Cabarita Beach. These actions were taken to ensure public safety while Surf Life Saving NSW deployed drones to survey the area for any further shark activity.
“We’ve been advised by Surf Life Saving NSW that Cabarita Beach at Norries Headland is currently closed due to a shark bite incident earlier this morning,” a statement from the council read. “No one was injured during the incident. We will provide more information as it becomes available.”
World Champion Surfer Reacts
Renowned surfer Kelly Slater shared his reaction after viewing footage of the attack, commenting, “Great example of why I fear open ocean swimming so much. Surfboards have saved quite a few surfers with that tiny barrier. Brad was lucky to be alive!”
Meanwhile, other locals expressed their astonishment on social media. One resident wrote, “A bit of drama on the beach after filming the sunrise. Another shark attack! Poor little shark thought he was getting a tasty treat, ended up with fiberglass splinters.” Another commented, “No one injured, thankfully. I swam at South Hastings this morning. No sharks there!”
A Reminder of Nature’s Power
This incident once again highlights the potential dangers of entering the ocean and the importance of safety measures such as drone patrols and beach closures. Many locals joked that Ross should consider buying a lottery ticket, given the extraordinary luck of walking away unharmed from such an encounter.
Cabarita Beach will remain closed until further notice, as authorities continue monitoring the area. In the meantime, residents and visitors are urged to stay informed and heed council warnings to ensure their safety.
