Hitchcock

The man, the films, those blondes. Free DVD collection starting this Sunday

Navigation - link to other main sections from here

Skip Navigation

From The Times
May 12, 2008

A sharp poke in the eye sees off shark attack in Australia

A swimmer whose left leg was seized by a 16ft shark managed to escape by poking it in the eye before he was rescued by a woman lifeguard.

The shark, believed to have been a great white, seized Jason Cull, 37, at Middleton Beach in southwestern Australia on Saturday.

From a hospital bed in Albany, about 250 miles south of Perth, where he was being treated for deep lacerations to his calf, Mr Cull said: “It banged straight into me. I sort of punched it, and it grabbed me by the leg ... I just remember being dragged backwards underwater. I felt along it, I found its eye and I poked it in the eye, and that's when it let go.”

Joanne Lucas, a volunteer lifesaver, leapt into the water after swimmers started panicking when they heard Mr Cull struggling, and dragged him back to shore.

The shark was one of three seen off the beach. There are about 15 shark attacks a year in Australian waters, one of the highest rates in the world, but on average just one a year is fatal. Last month a shark killed a 16-year-old surfer off Australia's eastern coast. (AP)

When I was growing up in Oz and training to be a volunteer lifesaver, we were always told that punching a shark on the nose or poking it in the eye is about the only hope you have of not being eaten. And this proves, it does work!

Brent , Mermaid Beach, Australia

it would be good if you knew the full story.... He didn't get attacked in Sydney as the healine says, he got attacked in Albany (Lower south west of WA!!! (thats the other side of the flippin continent!!!!)) Sydney is over 4,000 kms away! the headline completely contradicts the story!

Sara Plug, Albany WA, Australia

Thumb in the eye, fellow humans. Remember that when you face our last remotely capable sea predator.

Edward, London,

Have your say

* Required

Also in World News

Also in News

Bangkok protests

Anti-government protesters inside Government House in Bangkok, Thailand

The violence has calmed, but Thai anti-government protesters refuse to quit

Slide Show

Comment Central

Barack Obama and John McCain battle it out over the White House

How did McCain and Obama compare?

A word by word look

    Comment    

    Minette Marrin Columnist

    open quote mark In choosing a woman he doesn’t know or understand John McCain reveals a dishonourable lust for office close quote mark

    More...
    Minette Marrin

    Pictures of the Week

    A baby silvery gibbon is pictured in its enclosure in Munich's zoo Hellabrunn (Michaela Rehle/Reuters)

    A selection of the best images from around the world

    Slide Show

    Across the Pond

    Palin's big moment: the blogosphere reacts

    Conservative pundits are swooning, liberals terrified

      Hurricane Gustav

      A car is washed away by the storm surge on U.S. Highway 90 as the outer bands of hurricane Gustav hit Gulfport, Miss.

      Storm reaches the coast of Louisiana after wreaking havoc on Caribbean

      Slide Show

      Pictures: Republican Convention

      balloons drop after the Senator's address at the 2008 Republican National Convention (Mike Segar/Reuters)

      Delegates gathered in St Paul amid protests and a hurricane

      Slide Show

      Most Read

      Skip Most Read

      Today

      MOST COMMENTED

      Skip Editor's Pick

      Today

      MOST CURIOUS

      Skip Most Curious

      Today

      Focus Zone

      swimmer

      Triathlon Training:

      Read the training tips and advice that helped our London Triathletes

      Focus zone, pets, 100x100

      Perfect Pets:

      Times Online's new TV show helps you make the right decisions for your pet

      Daniel Craig

      James Bond:

      Read our exclusive 100 Years of Fleming and Bond interactive timeline, packed with original Times articles and reviews

      ba business travel clouds

      Business Travel:

      The latest travel news plus the best hotels and gadgets for business travellers

      previous next

      Popular Searches on Times Online

      a level results 2008 | books | chess | currency converter | fantasy football | fashion | formula 1 | horoscopes | kajaki | mortgages | pensions | podcasts | property | rafael nadal | recipes | redundancy calculator | sudoku | wine

      Shortcuts to help you find sections and articles

      Daniel Craig

      Special

      Fleming & Bond

      Exclusive 100 year timeline

      Services

      The Singapore skyline pictured at night

      Business City Guides

      Overseas contacts and local business information

      Luxx

      The Times Luxx

      A treasure trove of baubles, booty and stylish quests

      Cyclists

      Special

      Triathlon Training

      Tips for successful training

      Credit Crunched?

      Our Credit Clinic has free help and advice

      Classifieds 

      Cars

      Skip Cars of the Week

      Jaguar XK XK V8

      2007
      £47,700

      Porsche Boxster S

      2007
      £41,899

      BMW 4.0 M3

      2008
      £41,445

      Car insurance

      Great car insurance deals online


      Jobs

      Skip Jobs of the Week
      Specifications Support Manager

      £25,510 – 32,000
      Transport for London
      London

      Leadership Programme

      £50k
      NHS
      Nationwide

      Head of Directorate HR

      £ £90,000 + PRP
      Essex County Council
      Essex

      Director of ICT

      100K
      Confidential
      London

      Properties

      NEW PRE LAUNCH In Ajman UAE

      5% below developer pre-launch price!

      The Gardens @ Riverside Quarters Wandsworth

      Luxury Appts, beautiful gardens w/ Thames views

      Holidays

      Skip Travel of the Week

      The Far East for Far Less,

      By Funway – Thailand
      from £589pp

      APT River Cruising

      Christmas Cruises
      From only £995pp

      Australia savings

      APTs East Coast now from only
      £2425pp.

      Travel insurance

      Great travel insurance deals online


      Place your advert now