Punching Surfer Fights off Shark

According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, a woman whowitnessed the attack, which happened late Thursday at Archie's Beach,said the water around the surfer began to bubble before he startedpunching the sea.

The man, who had been surfing with his son, returned to the beachunharmed and told lifeguards his board had been hit by a "large greyshape".

Queensland Shark Control Program manager Tony Ham says it was most likely a tiger shark.

"We catch quite a number of tiger sharks off Bundaberg each year," Mr Ham said. "At the end of the day the reality is we know they're present all year round. I guess we're warning people to be proactive and be a bit clever."

Mr Ham says the attack may be linked to the region's turtle breeding season. He says nesting turtles along the coast provide a feeding ground forlurking tiger sharks, and it is likely the shark mistook the man for aturtle.

"Sharks, particularly tiger sharks, are one of their naturalpredators so they're out there having an opportunistic feed," he said.