Australian surfer dies in hospital after shark attack near Perth

Ben Gerring

An Australian surfer has died in hospital, three days after being attacked by a great white shark off a beach south of Perth.

Ben Gerring, 29, passed away on Friday night at the Royal Perth Hospital after losing his leg in the attack at Falcon, near Mandurah, on Tuesday.


Mr Gerring's family thanked everyone involved in his rescue and treatment.

"The bravery and efforts of his rescuers and the care provided by the doctors and nurses has been amazing," the family said.

"We would also like to thank family and friends for their messages of love and support. They are greatly appreciated."

An examination of the bite marks on the broken surfboard have confirmed that the shark was a great white.

The 4.2-metre shark died after being caught on a drum line a day after the attack. It was then pulled out to sea and disposed of, Western Australia's Department of Fisheries said.

Witnesses described the "harrowing" scene said at the time, saying Mr Gerring's leg was severed above the knee.

Brian Williams, Mandurah Boardriders Club President, said he arrived at the beach as other surfers were dragging Mr Gerring onto the shore.

Ambulance and police officers help Ben Gerring after a shark ripped off his leg.

"By the time they got him to the beach somebody had already applied a tourniquet to stop the bleeding and they were just trying to do CPR to get him back breathing," he told ABC News.
Mr Williams helped take the injured surfer to the ambulance

"It's pretty harrowing seeing somebody you know lying there motionless, hoping that everything's going to be OK," he said.

Mr Gerring's family said he had only recently discovered his fiancee Jasmine Boyer was in the early stages of pregnancy.

The surfer's death is the first shark fatality in Western Australia since a great white killed fisherman Jay Muscat near Albany in December 2014.