Australia's shark-infested waters have claimed more victims than most people want to think about.
Every year brings new horror stories from the continent's deadly coastline.
And now an Australian windsurfer just had his desperate fight to survive a great white attack recorded in one breathing video.
Great White turns peaceful windsurfing session into fight for survival
Monday afternoon looked like any other perfect day on the water near Margaret River in Western Australia.
Andy McDonald, a seasoned windsurfer, was riding his hydrofoil board at the popular Bombie surf break around 5:45 p.m.
The conditions were ideal for the sport that's been drawing thrill-seekers to Australia's coast for decades.
Then everything went sideways in the blink of an eye.
"Just out of the blue – bang. It felt like a freight train," McDonald told ABC News.¹
"Something came up from under the water and just propelled me up into the sky."
What happened next would test every survival instinct the experienced athlete possessed.
The Melbourne native found himself face-to-face with one of nature's most efficient killing machines – a Great White shark that had just taken a massive chunk out of his board.
But McDonald wasn't about to become another statistic.
Fighter's instincts kick in during underwater battle
When most people imagine a shark attack, they picture helpless victims.
McDonald had a different response entirely.
The shark's bite wrapped around his leg strap, dragging him underwater in what could have been his final moments.
"I was punching it and kicking it, and I think it was trying to do the same back to me because it was tangled up in my leg rope," McDonald told PEOPLE.²
Instead of panicking, the veteran windsurfer turned the encounter into a full-contact fight.
"At that point I thought, 'This is it. This is my time up,'" he said.³
"I realized I was tangled up with it, with a big shark, and, you know, he was definitely going to be the boss in that situation."
But McDonald refused to give the predator easy prey.
His aggressive response – punching and kicking the estimated juvenile Great White – broke the shark's grip and likely saved his life.
"And then it broke free, and I just jumped up onto my sail, which is inflatable, parts of it, just to get out of the water, get my limbs out of the water, and pray that it didn't come back," McDonald told the outlet.⁴
https://x.com/Reuters/status/1988534733194891416“>https://x.com/Reuters/status/1988534733194891416
Margaret River's deadly “men in grey suits” reputation strikes again
Margaret River isn't just famous for wine and surfing – it's notorious for Great White shark encounters.
The region has been a hotspot for attacks dating back over a decade, with multiple incidents forcing professional surf competitions to halt mid-event.
In 2011-2012, a series of attacks plagued the area.⁵
Just this past July, two separate shark attacks occurred near Gracetown within hours of each other, forcing the World Surf League to temporarily suspend the Margaret River Pro.⁶
The pattern shows no signs of slowing down.
According to the Australian Shark Incident Database, there have been 17 shark incidents so far in 2025 alone.⁷
Australia ranks second globally behind the United States for shark attacks, with Great Whites responsible for the majority of serious encounters.
Western Australia's coast provides perfect hunting grounds for these apex predators.
The combination of seal colonies, whale migration routes, and year-round surfing activity creates a dangerous mix.
Of course, those shadows lurking beneath your in a West Oz wave face aren’t always unwelcome.
Fighting back proves the difference between life and death
McDonald's aggressive response flies in the face of conventional wisdom about shark encounters.
Most safety experts recommend staying calm and avoiding sudden movements.
But when a 15-foot killing machine has you tangled in its grip underwater, sometimes you have to fight fire with fire.
The windsurfer's willingness to throw punches and kicks likely convinced the shark he wasn't easy prey.
Great Whites typically target seals and other marine animals that can't fight back effectively.
When McDonald started delivering blows, the predator decided this meal wasn't worth the trouble.
"It obviously didn't like the taste of the styrene and carbon fibre of the board," McDonald joked afterward.⁸
The shark left behind a bite mark estimated at 350 to 380 millimeters in diameter – evidence of just how close the encounter came to turning deadly.
McDonald's damaged board tells the story of a battle most people wouldn't survive.
His friend "Matto" helped push him back to shore, where he arrived shaken but uninjured after the harrowing 15-minute paddle back.⁹
Veteran athlete refuses to let fear win
What separates true watermen from weekend warriors is how they respond to danger.
McDonald proved he belongs in the first category.
The 61-year-old has been windsurfing the Margaret River area since moving there in 2003, and rarely encountered sharks during that time.
"You know, for years I've always felt very safe in that area," he told reporters.¹⁰
But the attack won't keep him out of the water for long.
"It won't stop me. I'll probably go tomorrow – not today. With another board," McDonald declared.¹¹
That's the spirit that built Australia's reputation for producing tough, no-nonsense athletes.
When life throws you a Great White shark, you punch it in the face and keep moving forward.
McDonald's fighting response and refusal to be intimidated embodies everything that makes Australian sportsmen legendary.
Most people would never go back in the water after an encounter like that.
True champions use it as motivation to get back out there even stronger.
¹ Andy McDonald, quoted in ABC News, "Windsurfer escapes shark attack near Margaret River," November 11, 2025.
² Andy McDonald, quoted in PEOPLE, "Windsurfer Filmed Escaping from Great White Shark," November 11, 2025.
³ Andy McDonald, quoted in The Sydney Morning Herald, "Windsurfer punches shark after attack near Margaret River," November 11, 2025.
⁴ Ibid.
⁵ Charlie Huveneers, quoted in Australian Rural & Regional News, "Triple measure to cut shark attacks," January 9, 2024.
⁶ Men's Journal, "Two Shark Attacks in Western Australia Occurred Near the WSL Margaret River Pro Contest Site," July 2, 2025.
⁷ Yahoo News Canada, "Windsurfer makes miracle escape from shark that tore through his board at popular beach," November 11, 2025.
⁸ Andy McDonald, quoted in The Sydney Morning Herald, "Windsurfer punches shark after attack near Margaret River," November 11, 2025.
⁹ Ibid.
¹⁰ Ibid.
¹¹ Ibid.
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