Cabarita Beach is located approximately 35 kilometers north of Byron Bay. Last Monday, the beach was temporarily closed after a shark incident bitten through a surfer’s board. Very early in the morning, a shark bit one man’s surfboard in half. It took a huge bite directly out of it! Fortunately, the surfer escaped without injury.
Witnesses reported a commotion in the water just before 7:30 am, captured on video footage from a local beach cam. Those stunning images show the moment the shark struck. It sent the board back cracked in half and a large bite-shaped chunk missing. The surf community’s response to the event has been pretty amazing, relief spread across many that the surfer had somehow managed to escape with his life.
Kelly Slater, eleven-time world surf champion, reacted to the crash, stating that it was “incredible” that the surfer survived. Writing on social media about what it’s like to meet a mammal like this in the open ocean, Slater reflected on the beauty of such encounters.
“Great example of why I fear open ocean swimming so much. Surfboards have saved quite a few surfers with that tiny barrier.” – Kelly Slater
The Tweed Shire Council reiterated its decision to close Cabarita Beach as a precaution after the shark incident. In a post on their Facebook page highlighting the lucky turn of events, they described it as “the bite … missing the rider.”
This is not the first time Cabarita Beach has been the scene of shark activity. Less than two months prior, a boy was bitten in the same location, raising concerns about marine life in the area. After two recent incidents, Surf Life Saving New South Wales decided enough was enough. They created strong and urgent warnings and reminders for beachgoers regarding important safety precautions.