Shark attack horror at NSW beach: Surfer bitten and dragged underwater reveals how he managed to escape

A surfer has recounted the terrifying moment he was attacked by a shark at a remote beach on the NSW north coast and how he was ‘very lucky’ to survive.

Alejo Santiñaque, 20, was sitting on his surfboard waiting for a wave near Red Cliff, about 660km north of Sydney, when he suddenly felt a powerful impact and a strong tug on his foot.

‘A shark had bitten me,’ he said on social media.

‘It pulled me into the water, and my immediate response was to kick it as hard as I could to make it let go.’

Mr Santiñaque said the shark became entangled in his surfboard leash, which was torn away from the board by the force of the attack.

‘Once it let go, I swam as fast as I could back to my board and towards the shore,’ he said.

‘Those moments were extremely intense because I had no idea if the shark would come back, so my only focus was getting out of the water.

‘It was obviously a very intense situation with a lot of adrenaline, but keeping a clear head was crucial. From the moment I was bitten until I reached the beach, I focused on what I needed to do and avoided panicking.’

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Surfer Alejo Santiñaque, 20, was waiting for a wave off Red Cliff Beach on the NSW north coast when a shark suddenly bit his foot and dragged him into the water

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Mr Santiñaque fought back by kicking the shark as hard as he could until it released him, before swimming frantically back to his board and racing for shore

Mr Santiñaque’s friends were at the beach and helped him apply a tourniquet until the ambulance arrived.

He was taken to hospital for surgery on his foot.

He said he was incredibly grateful to his mates for acting quickly and staying calm under pressure.

‘Considering what could have happened, I was very lucky. The bite tore through skin and muscle, ruptured one tendon and damaged a few others, but it missed any major arteries,’ he wrote.

‘Looking at how serious shark attacks can be, I know I got off lightly.’

Mr Santiñaque said he didn’t hold any resentment towards the shark, acknowledging that the ocean is its home and that he accepted the risk by entering its environment.

‘As surfers, swimmers and ocean users, we all know that even though incidents like this are extremely rare, the risk is always there,’ he said.

‘Sharks are not villains or monsters. They are wild animals and an essential part of the marine ecosystem. What happened was a very unfortunate accident, but it doesn’t change the love and respect I have for the ocean.’

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The incident occurred at Red Cliff Beach on the NSW north coast

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Red Cliff Beach is about 660km north of Sydney

He said the attack had given him an even greater appreciation for life and the friends who helped him on the day.

Many praised Mr Santiñaque for not blaming the shark for the incident.

‘You seem like a great person not blaming the shark and hating it,’ one person wrote.

‘Thanks for sharing your experience and having such a good attitude and respect toward the ocean and the shark,’ another said.

Locals on the Friends of Brooms Head Facebook page said they had recently spotted sharks in the area feeding on mullet and other baitfish. They also warned others about dirty water and advised avoiding the beach at dusk.

‘If you see a mullet school, please for your own safety, do not go in the water,’ one said.

Daily Mail contacted Mr Santiñaque for further comment.