Mel Ismail, a 56-year-old firefighter from Western Australia, lost his foot after being attacked by a shark while surfing alone at Glenfield Beach in Geraldton on Monday morning. Another beachgoer rescued him and applied a makeshift tourniquet to stem the bleeding before emergency responders took over. The Department of Fire and Emergency Services expressed support for Ismail, who remains in serious but stable condition following surgery. Authorities have closed part of the popular surfing spot known as "Glennies" and are investigating the species of shark involved.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-15,
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Harrowing new details have emerged about an Aussie father's desperate fight for survival after being attacked by a shark in Western Australia's Mid-West.
Local firefighter Mel Ismail, 56, was surfing alone at Geraldton's Glenfield Beach on Monday morning when the shark bit into his leg and board 40m from shore.
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shark → see → shore
Another beachgoer raced into the water to help him after seeing the surfer's frantic waves for help.
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beachgoer → race → help
He helped Mr Ismail to shore, where a group of teens used rope from a surfboard as a makeshift tourniquet to stem the bleeding.
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group → help → bleeding
He was then driven to a nearby meeting spot, where emergency responders took over first aid.
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responders → drive → aid
Mr Ismail was rushed to Geraldton Health Campus in a serious but stable condition, where he has since undergone surgery.
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he → rush → surgery
It is understood the off-duty firefighter lost his foot in the attack.
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firefighter → understand → attack
'Our thoughts are with him, his family and DFES colleagues,' Department of Fire and Emergency Services deputy commissioner Melissa Pexton said.
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Pexton → say → him
Mel Ismail (right) was bitten by a shark while surfing on Monday.
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Ismail → bite → Monday
He is pictured in 2015 with Aussie surfing legend Mick Fanning
The shark also bit off a sizable chuck from the off-duty firefighter's surfboard
'
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shark → picture → surfboard
I would like to thank the first responders who went to his aid.'
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who → like → aid
Geraldton MLA and shadow fisheries minister Kirrilee Warr added: 'I have spoken to witnesses who were on the beach, and they described to me what a traumatic and horrific situation it was.
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it → add → me
'I would have to thank those first responders because the man is still with us, and we do hope that he makes a good recovery.'
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he → have → recovery
Mr Ismail met and posed for a photo with Mick Fanning in 2015, the same year the Australian surfing world champion came face-to-face with a great white shark while competing in South Africa.
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champion → meet → Africa
Friends described him as a good guy who is no stranger to the ocean.
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who → describe → ocean
'Mel is a great Samaritan, a lovely, great neighbour,' one told the Geraldton Guardian.
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one → tell → Guardian
But I'm sure he'll come back.
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he → come → ?
He's got a good spirit.
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He → get → spirit
Mr Ismail was rushed to Geraldton Health Campus in a serious but stable condition, where he has since undergone surgery
A section of Glenfield Beach, known to the locals as 'Glennies', remains closed
Authorities seized Mr Ismail's wetsuit and damaged surfboard to determine the species of shark.
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Authorities → rush → shark
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is working with local authorities to coordinate a response.
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Department → work → response
A section of Glenfield Beach remains closed.
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section → remain → Beach
Known as 'Glennies' by locals, it is a popular surfing, swimming and snorkelling spot located 428km north of Perth.
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it → know → Perth
Two of the four fatal shark attacks recorded in Australia this year occurred in Western Australia.
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Two → record → Australia
Perth father-of-two Steven Mattaboni, 38, was spearfishing with friends off Rottnest Island when he was bitten on the leg by a suspected great white shark on May 16.
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he → spearfishe → May
His friends performed CPR as they raced him to the island by boat, where paramedics were waiting, but he could not be revived.
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he → perform → boat
Three weeks later, Daniel Turpin, 35, was killed by an estimated 4.5-metre great white shark while spearfishing at Michaelmas Island, off Albany in WA's Great Southern region.
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Turpin → kill → region
The Aporia
