A shark attack victim now believes he was attacked by a Great White Shark, after originally believing it was a Bronze Whaler Shark.
On Tuesday, Nov. 4, Shark Watch South Australia said on Facebook that Lee Berryman has confirmed that he was attacked by a Great White shark in D’Estrees Bay, Kangaroo Island, Australia, on Oct. 7, rather than the Bronze Whaler he had initially suspected.
In October, South Australia Police confirmed to PEOPLE that a man in his fifties drove himself to the hospital following a shark attack near D’Estrees Bay.
Shark Watch South Australia, a non-profit group that promotes shark awareness, reported in a post at the time that the man had been bitten by a bronze whaler.
Berryman told the group that the shark’s “bronze complexion” led him to believe it was a golden Whaler, but White Sharks can also have a bronze-colored topside.
According to Shark Watch South Australia’s report, the bite mark on Berryman’s thigh was more than 10 inches (27 cm), implying the creature was over 3 meters long.
Berryman, whose surfboard was also damaged in the incident, published gruesome photos of his scar, which included more than 50 stitches and bruising. He also claimed he was only bitten once, telling Australian source 7News that the thing “chomped” on him.
The board also contained tooth marks that were “too wide to be a Bronze Whaler and match those of a White Shark,” and a Great White had been sighted in the region around the time of the assault, according to Shark Watch South Australia.
In a statement to the organization, Berryman stated, “I was swimming out when the shark grabbed me. Its nose was near to mine, so I simply started belting it, and it let go. When I felt it grab me, I thought, “That’s the little f—– that was here the other day!”
The group described the incident as follows: “As [Berryman] swam inshore, two seals swam around nearby, with the pup dancing around Lee until he made it in.”
Berryman is claimed to be doing well and “is walking around.” However, Shark Watch South Australia claims that he is unable to sit for extended periods of time.
“We look forward to hosting him on our next ‘Sharks Cast’ for a special public broadcast to be recorded in the coming days,” they tweeted. “Lee has been surfing D’Estrees Bay for 43 years, and Cray dives throughout the bay. He understands the seas “like the back of his hand.” Lee has no issues with sharks, and he wants to make it clear that he has no ill will toward them as a result of his ordeal. #sharkbite #attack #whiteshark.”
