Shark Attack Cape Town - Man survived by poking shark in the eye with his thumb

A South African spear fisher survived a great white shark attack on Saturday by poking it in the eye with his thumb before being pulled aboard to safety.

Mathieu Dasnois, 29, was with a group on a sightseeing tour off the coast near Port St. Johns, a coastal town in South Africa, when he asked to go in the water to test out a new scuba mask.

Swimming in shallow waters some 20 meters from the boat, Mr Dasnois spent less than two minutes in the water before the dorsal fin of a 4-metre great white shark was spotted heading in his direction.

"It was bloody huge," said Mr Dasnois, speaking from Mthatha, a city in the Eastern Cape province. "I didn't see the first attack, it gripped my leg, took it in its mouth and swam. I poked it in the eye with my left thumb."

"The shark let go and came back again. I'm pretty sure it attacked me three times."
He was pulled on board and taken to shore, where an ambulance was waiting.
"My leg was badly mangled, that's where it took me and dragged me along," said Mr Dasnois. "I've got some injuries on my left arm and deep gashes in both my hands."
Mr Dasnois, who has been spearfishing for years, says that despite the attack, he's planning on returning to the ocean. "One day," he laughs, "but it will be close to a boat in very clear water."
Mr Dasnois later wrote on his Facebook page: "So before rumours start seeping too much: I am a shark attack survivor. I squared up with a 4m great white. Not my most successful fight, but I'm essentially fine. Will regain full use of my entire body. Got lucky and had great help. Except for my fin, the shark took my brand new fin. Grrrr.
"Meh. The sea giveth and the sea taketh away. But that guy really wanted me. Must have been something I ate. I should slow down on the crayfish."