Surfer Saved His Wife From Great White Shark Attack By Jumping On Predator's Back And Punching Until It Let Go

Aug 16, 2020 by apost team

On Saturday morning, August 15th, 2020, Australian man Mark Rapley saved his wife Chantelle Doyle from a Great White Shark attack at Shelly Beach in southeastern Australia. After leaping onto the shark's back and punching it until it let go, Rapley swam his wife back to shore and administered first aid until medics arrived.

According to BBC, Chantelle Doyle, 35, was surfing off the coast of Port Macquarie, New South Wales when a juvenile Great White Shark bit into her right leg. The shark was approximately three meters (10 feet) in length.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that in the moment Doyle's husband, Mark Rapley, leaped off of his surfboard and jumped on the shark's back. He then repeatedly punched the shark until it released his wife's leg from its jaws. 

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Rapley then swam his wife to shore and performed first-aid on her until medics arrived. According to Nine News Sydney, this became the third shark attack on New South Wales' northern coast in the past two months, with the previous attack occurring approximately 300 miles away from Shelly Beach back in July. 

According to BBC, medics eventually airlifted her to the hospital for surgery. She is reported to now be in a stable condition. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Surf Life Saving New South Wales chief executive Steven Pearce said of the rescue:

 "This fella paddled over and jumped off his board onto the shark and hit it to get it to release her and then assisted her back into the beach. Pretty full-on, really heroic."

We are happy that Doyle is now in a stable condition, and that her husband was able to save her. What do you think of this heroic rescue? Let us know your thoughts and be sure to pass this incredible story on to others!