Thirteen Year-Old Surfer Girl Hannah Mighall Survives Shark Attack In Tasmania

Thirteen year-old surfer Hannah Mighall was rescued from a shark attack Sunday after being bitten in the leg by a 16-foot, white pointer shark in the waters of Binalong Bay on the east coast of the Australian island of Tasmania. Her father, pictured with her here, says he thinks she’ll be back in the water again when she recovers. Mighall, who’s been surfing since she could walk, was rescued by her 33 year-old cousin Syb Mundy who punched the shark in the nose after it took a bite out of Hannah’s surfboard and her leg. But he told the press it was Hannah who was brave.

“She gave me the strength to stay there with her in the water - when I saw the way she was fighting it off,” he later said. “She was scared but she fought it off.” After punching the shark in the nose, Mundy put Mighall on his board and attempted to ride to safety, but a large wave took the board as they simultaneously discovered the shark had followed them. “[T]he shark actually got on to the wave with us. We looked to our left and this thing started surfing towards us. We just headed straight to the beach,” said Syb. They kept paddling and finally made it ashore. “Hannah herself, she’s a very athletic person really into sport, all types particularly water sports,” her father said. “She’s a brave girl and we’re very proud of her.” Hannah is in the hospital expected to make a full recovery after surgery to repair nerve and muscle damage. This marks the third shark attack in two days off the coast of Australia confirming what some are calling a Shark plague.
Hannah Mighall’s Surfboard Post-Shark Attack


Surfer saves cousin by punching shark’s nose [China View]
Shark victim Hannah Mighall gave rescuer courage [The Australian]
Shark victim’s dad says surf skills saved daughter [ABC News]