Mates pull surfer on to rocks after shark attack in remote waters

ADELAIDE - A surfer is recovering in hospital from lacerations to his legs after being attacked by a shark at a remote location off Kangaroo Island, south of Adelaide.

Josh Berris, 26, was surfing with a group of four friends near Cape du Couedic, on the island's south-western tip in Flinders Chase National Park, when he was bitten by a great white shark.

Yesterday's attack follows one on Friday, when surfer Brad Satchell fought off a shark by punching it in the head at Perth's Scarborough Beach. Satchell was not injured.

SA Ambulance spokesman Lee Francis said Berris was treated at the scene before being airlifted to the Flinders Medical Centre where he underwent surgery for lacerations to both of his legs.

Two of Berris' friends dragged him out of the water after the attack and pulled their injured mate on to rocks at the base of a cliff, before climbing up steep cliffs to make an emergency call from a nearby ranger station. National Parks and Wildlife officer Anthony McGuire said emergency crews took some time to arrive because of the remoteness of the location.

On September 4, surfer Jake Heron survived being mauled by a shark off the Eyre Peninsula. On August 24, marine biologist Jarrod Stehbens was taken by a shark while diving for cuttlefish eggs off Adelaide's Glenelg Beach. In December last year, surfboarder Nick Peterson, 18, was killed after being attacked by a great white shark off Adelaide's West Beach.

The attacks prompted South Australia to boost air patrols along Adelaide beaches this summer. Emergency Services Minister Carmel Zollo said a rescue helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft would conduct the patrols.

- AAP