British scuba diver escapes 10ft shark attack – intact

Posted by Tom Moran on Oct 15th, 2009 in Around Britain, England | 0 comments

Meeting Neighbours actor Alan Fletcher and surviving a shark attack are just two of the experiences Australia has to offer.

But scuba diver Matt Bowen will be taking both of them with him as he continues on a round the world tour.

The 23-year-old from Warrington, Cheshire, was diving a ship wreck off Western Australia when he was bitten by a 10ft bull shark in a horrifying attack.

Despite being badly wounded on the leg, Mr Bowen forced the shark off before being taken to hospital in Albany, Western Australia. He was later transferred to Perth for specialist treatment.

Speaking from Australia, Mr Bowen said that while the experience was frightening, he was in a state of shock at the time and could barely feel the pain.

“My buddy and I used to mess around all the time, grabbing each other by the legs and pretending it was a shark attack,” he said.

“So when I felt a tug on my leg, I initially thought it was her. It wasn’t really painful but it suddenly got a lot more vigorous and violent.

“I turned round to see what was going on and there was this three metre shark clinging onto me.

“I started kicking it as hard as I could to free my leg. I was aiming for the head but doing whatever I could to get it away from me.

“It would have gone for me again, but luckily I got my flippers in the way.”

Mr Bowen said all he could see of his calf was shredded tissue and blood.

“The shock and adrenalin soon wore off and I was in a world of pain, slipping in and out of consciousness for a while,” he added.

Mr Bowen has been left with a 10 inch long scar – one for every foot of the shark – along his calf but has not been deterred from diving.

Are you currently scuba diving off Western Australia? If so watch out, there’s a hungry shark on the loose.

Hat tip to The Telegraph

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