Hero Punches Shark to Save Teen at Cabarita Beach: Shocking Attack Leaves 16-Year-Old Seriously Injured

A terrifying shark attack at Cabarita Beach on Sunday afternoon, June 30, turned into an act of bravery when a hero beachgoer punched a shark to save a 16-year-old boy from its jaws.

According to eyewitness footage, the teenager had been swimming in the water when a two-metre long shark suddenly attacked. The boy suffered serious injuries to his right upper arm, wrist, and leg. As bystanders rushed to his aid, the shark was seen circling nearby in shallow waters.

In a chilling moment caught on camera, one heroic man charged into the ocean and punched the shark to drive it away, allowing others to safely drag the injured teen to shore.

One shocked onlooker screamed, “Oh my God, that’s the shark!” as panic spread along the beach. Another beachgoer shouted, “Oh f***. That’s really scary!”

The rescuers used a surfboard as a makeshift stretcher, carrying the boy to a nearby car park where two off-duty paramedics applied a tourniquet to control the bleeding.

The teenager was later airlifted by Westpac Rescue Helicopter to Gold Coast University Hospital, where he remains in a serious but stable condition.

NSW paramedic Ben Mumford praised the swift and courageous response from the beachgoers.
“There were a few brave people in the water that helped him out,” Mumford said. “There were also a couple of off-duty paramedics on the scene that assisted him until we arrived.”

A second helicopter was launched to search for the shark, but the aerial operation was unsuccessful. The species of the shark remains unknown, though NSW Shark Smart had tagged and released a tiger shark in the same area just three days before the attack.

Authorities have confirmed that Cabarita Beach will remain closed for 24 hours as a safety precaution while investigations continue.

This horrifying encounter has sparked new concerns about beach safety along NSW’s far north coast, especially with shark sightings becoming more frequent.