Imagine being out on the water, enjoying a morning paddle, when suddenly a shark strikes.
That’s exactly what happened to Georgina Smith, a 35-year-old South Perth woman, on Saturday morning in the Swan River.
The Shocking Attack
Georgina was paddling near Black Wall Reach around 8:15 am when a bull shark, believed to be the culprit, took a massive bite out of her canoe.
The force of the attack knocked her into the water, leaving her shaken but thankfully alive.
The incident occurred while Georgina was training for a national title as a member of the Hurricane Outrigger Canoe Club.
A Desperate Fight for Safety
In an interview with 7News, Georgina recounted the terrifying moment: “I thought it was a dolphin, it wasn’t until I got back and saw the teeth marks that I thought, okay, it might have been something more sinister.” Georgina said she was knocked into the water by the bump and had to think fast to get to safety.
“You’ve got to get action and going, or else I’d still be in the river,” she said.
A Lucky Escape
Luckily, Georgina was able to wave down a man in a nearby dinghy, who drove her back to her club.
Although the encounter was traumatic, Georgina is determined to get back out on the water and resume her training.
However, she’s vowed to avoid Black Wall Reach in the future, citing the terrifying experience as a reason to choose a safer location.