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WATCH: Man Punches Shark to Save 16-Year-Old During Attack

Nearby surfers stepped in to save the day.

A teenager swimming at Cabarita Beach in New South Wales, Australia, was stalked and attacked by a shark before a surfer stepped in to save his life. The man punched a shark head-on, a method of self-defense against sharks that experts recommend. Others stepped in to help bring the boy to shore on a surfboard, with the shark following close behind them. Witnesses at the scene claim the shark, which they identified as the warm water-loving bull shark, was about seven feet long and was chasing a seal before it bit the 16-year-old on the arm and leg. Luckily, an off-duty paramedic was nearby to help stop the bleeding. The teenager was transported by helicopter to the intensive care unit of Gold Coast University Hospital in Southport. A surfer posted a video of the event on TikTok with the caption “Video from Arch and Katy just after a surf in Caba today. Hope 16 yo Ashton is ok.” TMZ reports that the teenager is in “serious but stable condition.” According to TMZ, a second helicopter was dispatched to find the shark, but was unsuccessful.