ABC News (AU)
· collected 2026-09-17 · by Chloe Henville and Chris Lewis
Shannan Dunn, a longtime surfer at Glenfield Beach in Geraldton, Western Australia, immediately rushed to rescue Mel Ismail, a 56-year-old firefighter who was bitten by a shark on Monday morning. Dunn helped transport Ismail to shore where bystanders provided first aid until paramedics arrived; Ismail lost his foot above the ankle and remains hospitalized but stable. Three days later, Dunn returned to the beach for the first time, still struggling with vivid memories of the incident despite intending to return to surfing soon.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-18,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
In short:
The rescuer who helped save the victim of a shark attack in Geraldton has returned to the beach for the first time.
asserted
who → save → time
Shannan Dunn did not hesitate to paddle to the aid of Mel Ismail after the 56-year-old firefighter was bitten by a shark on Monday.
asserted
firefighter → hesitate → Monday
Mr Dunn says he has spoken to Mr Ismail's family and hopes to reunite with him when he's recovered from his injuries.
asserted
he → say → injuries
A man who responded to a shocking shark attack on Western Australia's Midwest coast says he is struggling to forget the sight of the blood.
asserted
he → respond → blood
Having surfed at Glenfield Beach in Geraldton for more than 20 years, Shannan Dunn had eagerly run up a steep sand dune to check the conditions on Monday morning.
asserted
Dunn → surf → morning
He snapped a picture of the swell with another surfer, Mel Ismail, in the distance before running back to his car to put on his wetsuit.
asserted
He → snap → wetsuit
Moments later, Mr Ismail was bitten by a shark.
asserted
Ismail → bite → shark
"His board was about 5 metres away, and he had his arm up," Mr Dunn said.
"
asserted
Dunn → have → arm
Then it only took a couple of seconds and I saw the blood all around him."
asserted
I → take → him
Mr Dunn raced into the water and swam out in Mr Ismail's direction.
asserted
Dunn → race → direction
"I don't think I really hesitated; I just wanted to get to him as quick as I could," he said.
uncertain
he → think → him
He said, 'Shark — it's got my leg', and I decided I wasn't going to look at it."
asserted
I → say → it
Assessing the damage
Mr Dunn said he "clumsily" paddled Mr Ismail to the beach, where a bystander made a makeshift tourniquet from a leg rope while another called Triple Zero (000).
asserted
another → assess → Zero
"He had lost his foot from just above his ankle," Mr Dunn said.
"
asserted
Dunn → lose → ankle
He … looked like he could fade out at any moment.
"
uncertain
he → look → moment
We didn't know how much blood he had lost."
Mr Dunn brought his four-wheel drive onto the beach and, along with some teenagers and the other bystanders, got Mr Ismail into the back to meet the paramedics.
asserted
Dunn → know → paramedics
"We just gunned it down the beach,"he said.
asserted
We → gun → beach,"he
The 56-year-old firefighter was rushed to the Geraldton Health Campus with serious injuries, where he remains in a stable condition.
asserted
he → rush → condition
A St John WA spokesperson said the first aid administered by those at the scene was "exceptional" and helped paramedics to rapidly transfer Mr Ismail to hospital.
asserted
paramedics → say → hospital
"St John WA pays tribute to the quick thinking and skills of those on scene," they said.
"
asserted
they → pay → scene
It was a credit to all who responded."
asserted
who → respond → all
Drawn to water
Mr Dunn returned to the scene of the frantic rescue on Thursday, three days on from the attack.
asserted
Dunn → draw → attack
"When I look out to where the sets are and stuff, I can still envision the blood," he said.
asserted
he → look → blood
"I'm still thinking about it at night as well, like, that's probably the worst part about it."
asserted
that → think → it
Despite the trauma, Mr Dunn plans to get back in the water sooner rather than later.
asserted
Dunn → plan → water
"I've given myself a week …
asserted
I → give → week
if the conditions are right and there are enough people in the water, I'll probably give it a crack," he said.
asserted
he → be → crack
"I don't think I'll be able to keep away from it for too long."
asserted
I → think → it
Glenfield Beach reopened on Wednesday morning, and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) confirmed it had stopped patrolling the area.
asserted
it → reopen → area
A DPIRD spokesperson said DNA from the damaged board and Mr Ismail's wetsuit was still being analysed to determine the species "most likely" behind the attack.
asserted
DNA → say → attack
Mr Dunn said Mr Ismail's family told him he was recovering well in hospital.
asserted
he → say → hospital
"It's looking very promising, I'd say, at this stage," Mr Dunn said.
asserted
Dunn → look → stage
"You've always got to touch a bit of wood, though."
asserted
You → get → wood
Mr Dunn hoped he could reunite with Mr Ismail soon.
uncertain
he → hop → Ismail
"Hopefully I don't bring back any bad memories from that day," Mr Dunn said.
"
asserted
Dunn → bring → day
I'm hoping that he will be stoked to see us, as I'm just as stoked to see him, to be honest.
asserted
I → hop → him
"I literally can't wait for that day, but it's only when he's ready."
asserted
he → wait → day
The Aporia
