ABC News (AU)
· collected 2026-10-09 · by Brianna Melville and Chris Lewis
Mel Ismail, a surfer from Geraldton in Western Australia, was severely injured by a shark bite while surfing north of the city in mid-September, resulting in the loss of his lower right leg. Survivors and rescuers are now celebrating the quick actions of surfer Shannan Dunn who, despite danger, paddled to Ismail's aid during the attack. In addition to Dunn, several beachgoers provided crucial assistance both at the scene and en route to hospital. Ismail emphasizes gratitude towards these "legends" for their lifesaving efforts while reflecting on his determination to adapt and continue surfing despite the setback.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-09,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On Sunday morning around 8:30 AM, a kayaker fishing near Paradise Cove beach cafe in Malibu, California, was bitten by a shark while attempting to release what he believed was a shortfin mako shark. The shark bit the kayaker as he tried to free it from his line, causing him to fall into the water. The shark then circled back and bit the man a second time before swimming away.
A nearby fisherman witnessed the attack and pulled the injured kayaker onto his boat. After calling 911, emergency personnel responded and transported the victim to shore for medical treatment. Los Angeles County lifeguards confirmed that the incident occurred approximately two miles off Paradise Cove beach but have not yet officially identified the shark species or released further details about the victim's condition.
This incident highlights increasing concerns over shark activity near coastal areas, particularly during dawn and dusk when feeding conditions are favorable for sharks.
Written for “Shark Attacks Off Malibu” on 2026-10-10,
grounded in this article and the 8 other(s) covering the same event.
In short:
After a shark bit off his leg Mel Ismail wants to highlight the locals and trained responders who saved his life.
asserted
who → bite → life
Mr Ismail has connected with hero surfer Shannan Dunn who risked his own life to rescue him.
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who → connect → him
Mr Ismail says he will "adapt, improvise and overcome" the challenges of life without his leg.
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he → say → leg
The West Australian surfer who looked a shark in the eye and survived wants the lasting legacy of his story to be the heroic behaviour of those who helped save his life.
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who → look → life
Mel Ismail was surfing north of Geraldton in mid-September when he was bitten.
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he → surf → September
Three weeks after his harrowing ordeal, the firefighter and part-time teacher is adjusting to life without his lower leg.
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firefighter → adjust → leg
But he plans to surf again.
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he → plan → ?
Mr Ismail this week spent time with Shannan Dunn, who raced into the water while the shark was likely close by.
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shark → spend → water
He said his spirits had lifted at the sight of the other man coming towards him.
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man → say → him
"Your words were, 'I got you mate, we'll get you in.
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we → got → you
We're gonna get you in,'" Mr Ismail told Mr Dunn.
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Ismail → go → Dunn
"Even when I [fell] off the front of the board, you went, 'That's alright, let's get back on, keep going, just keep going.'"
Mr Dunn recalled the chaotic paddle to shore as he struggled to keep Mr Ismail on the board.
"We were both off the board at stages, [then] we were both on there at the same time," he said.
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he → fall → time
"It was a bit of a mess, but we got there.
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we → get → mess
"If I was in the same situation, I'd want someone to come and get me."
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someone → want → me
The two had previously seen each other's faces in the surf while battling for waves, but said the rescue brought them together.
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rescue → see → them
"One day when I get my leg better I'll probably have to throw a few waves his way," Mr Ismail said.
"
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Ismail → get → waves
Mr Ismail extended his thanks to other beachgoers who helped save his life.
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who → extend → life
Chrissy and Rick, who asked to be identified by their first names, helped treat Mr Ismail when he made it to shore.
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he → ask → shore
Teenage cousins Cruz and Clay McDonald and their friend Jasper Hill, surfing during the attack and initially none the wiser, rushed to shore to help.
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cousins → surf → shore
They fashioned a second tourniquet out of one of their leg ropes, helped load Mr Ismail into Mr Dunn’s four-wheel drive, and kept his spirits high on the bumpy ride to the ambulance.
Paramedics, volunteers, nurses and doctors then provided life-saving care.
"So many people take them for granted.
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people → fashion → them
They're heroes," Mr Ismail said.
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Ismail → say → ?
"What they do, what they see and experience, they save people's lives.
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they → do → lives
We don't hold them up highly enough and say, 'Hey, you're actually legends.'
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you → hold → them
"That's what I want to put out there as my story."
Losing a limb
Now back at home in Geraldton, Mr Ismail said the hardest part of his ordeal had been coming to terms with the loss of his right leg.
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part → want → leg
He said his family and community had flooded him with support, including a friend who had delivered hand-built wheelchair ramps for his house.
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who → say → house
"I'm looking at it and trying to think, 'Hey, be positive, move forward,'" he said.
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he → look → it
"I just can't walk outside anymore and do things.
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I → walk → things
"If I want to go out into the garden or mow the lawn, that's sort of finished for a bit.
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that → want → bit
He has already returned to the gym and plans to eventually get back to work and back on a surfboard.
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He → return → surfboard
"I always call it 'adapt, improvise and overcome', so I'm going to go with that motto," he said.
"
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he → call → motto
I got enough friends that want to see me in the water again.
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that → get → water
They might think I'm surfing better than I ever have."
uncertain
I → think → ?
Mr Ismail has not held his surfboard since it was broken during the shark attack and conceded it might bring back memories.
uncertain
it → hold → memories
"I'll get my head around that probably in the next couple of weeks," he said.
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he → get → weeks
I'll see it with some friends around, and we'll work together through that."
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we → see → that
Surfers 'know the risks'
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Surfers → know → risks
He also did not hold resentment towards the shark, which was yet to be identified.
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which → hold → shark
"Sometimes I say 'bloody shark' if I'm feeling down," he said.
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he → say → shark
He said the fisheries department's inability to identify the animal was not a major factor for him.
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inability → say → him
"A shark took my leg.
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shark → take → leg
…and 12 more, not listed.
The Aporia
