Shark gives teenager gnarly wounds, teenager remains inexplicably chill
It was a very close call for 17-year-old Australian surfer Cooper Allen.
The teenager was bitten on the thigh by a great white shark at around 9:00 a.m. on Monday, just off Lighthouse Beach in the town of Ballina on the east coast. But he seems pretty okay.
A 3.5 metre (11.4 foot) shark was spotted from the air shortly after the attack and lifesavers helped to clear the water.
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NSW Police said in a statement that the surfer made his own way out of the water after the attack and was treated by a nurse on the beach. He was later taken to Lismore Base Hospital in a stable condition.
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Allen fortunately won't need major surgery, as the shark missed a main artery.
According to 7 News he's in "good spirits" and is joking with friends, and will likely only need a few stitches for his wounds.
He certainly seems pretty chill, considering he's just had a run-in with nature's perfect killing machine. Just look at that cheeky grin and thumbs up.
The wounds are also pretty gnarly too, let's be honest. *Graphic tweet ahead*
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It's the fourth shark attack on the one-kilometre beach in less than two years, according to ABC News.
Authorities abandoned a shark barrier trial in August due to rough seas, and the discussion has again reignited on what governments are doing to protect swimmers and surfers from sharks.
Currently, there are listening stations installed along the coast, which alert beachgoers through and app and via Twitter when a tagged shark is nearby.
"We need to continue to do exactly what we're doing and that is a whole range of technologies we are trialling," New South Wales Premier, Mike Baird, told ABC News on Monday.
"There is already drone technology that is working … and we'll look to get that there which will provide increased surveillance.
"We can't guarantee, clearly, at any beach, that people will be safe. But, we'll do everything we can to ensure that we do that."
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