He showed great bravery...
An Irishman has been nominated for the Pride of Australia Medal for his bravery when he rescued his friend from a shark attack.
Shane De Roiste and his friend, Dale Carr, were surfing in New South Wales, Australia in August last year when Dale was the victim of a shark attack.
Dale managed to escape by pushing his thumb into the shark's eye and Shane hauled him more than 200 metres to the shore.
Speaking on Morning Ireland on Wednesday, Shane said: “We had been surfing with dolphins for months and months before it. So that initial reaction, when we saw a fin come up behind my friend Dale, who was just a few metres away from me, was just another dolphin."
But they soon realised the danger and Shane described the attack as ferocious.
“It’s a very quick and ferocious attack with the Great White. It bumped Dale off his board and he flipped over and that’s when I noticed the big white belly and I knew it’s a Great White.
"Dale was actually punching the shark in the head and he spoke to me afterwards saying that it wasn’t doing anything, he could tell it was like punching a brick wall."
Shane explained that Dale changed his tactics and jammed his thumb into the shark's eye which caused it to back away.
He then brought Dale, who had lost over two litres of blood, back to shore where help was waiting, all the while keeping an eye out in case the shark returned.
The Pride of Australia Medal is given to people who reflect the core value of giving for the good of other people, their community and their friends. It recognises everyday people who do extraordinary things and is presented by the Daily Telegraph newspaper.
