Kayaker thrown overboard in latest horror shark attack on Sunshine Coast

A man is lucky to be alive after being thrown from his kayak by a tiger shark on the Sunshine Coast on Thursday morning.

According to multiple reports, the kayaker was fishing about 1.5 kilometres from Moffat Beach at Caloundra when the 4 metre-long shark “slammed” into him, sending him flying into the water.

The Sunshine Coast Daily reports the man was able to swim back to his craft quickly, despite the shark having pierced the outer layer of the inflatable kayak. Once out of the water, he was then able to radio for help with lifesavers rushing to his aid.

Surf Lifesaving QLD has since confirmed he was rescued safely by a team on jet skis, and described the lifesaving effort as “amazing”.

“#RESCUE Lifesavers on jet skis have performed an amazing rescue this morning off Moffatt Headland, when a kayaker was knocked out of his craft by a 4m tiger shark,” a tweet on their official account read.

“The patient was able to climb back onboard and radio for help. The patient was rescued, no further action required.”

#RESCUE Lifesavers on jetskis have performed an amazing rescue this morning off Moffatt Headland, when a kayaker was knocked out of his craft by a 4m tiger shark. The patient was able to climb back onboard and radio for help. The patient was rescued, no further action required.

— Surf Life Saving Queensland (SLSQ) (@lifesavingqld) November 14, 2018

A spokesman for the organisation later told the news outlet the rescue “was a great example of the work life savers do outside of the flags”.

The man isn’t thought to be seriously injured but multiple reports claim he is suffering from shock symptoms. It comes after a string of shark attacks in recent weeks, with 33-year-old Daniel Christidis fatally mauled in Queensland’s Cid Harbour last week. It has since prompted a fresh debate over shark culling.

Christidis was swimming off a charter boat in the iconic Whitsundays tourist hotspot when he was attacked. Despite being rushed to Mackay Hospital, he didn’t survive. He suffered major blood loss and was resuscitated twice, but died as a result of his injuries. His death came six weeks after two others were attacked in a similar area.

Read more: Should sharks be culled? Debate rages following death in Queensland

On September 20, 46-year-old Tasmanian woman Justine Barwick was bitten while snorkelling in Cid Harbour. She received serious injuries and underwent an 18-hour surgery to save her mauled leg.

Less than 24 hours later, Melbourne schoolgirl Hannah Papps was attacked when swimming in a nearby area. She was also rushed to hospital and treated for serious leg injuries. Following those two attacks, shark control equipment was temporarily placed in Cid Harbour and six potentially dangerous sharks were removed from waters.

Do you know anyone who has had a near miss with a shark in the past? Do you agree with shark culling?