Surfer mauled by shark in terrifying attack saved by her partner who tackled the Great White with fists
NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA: Chantelle Doyle, a woman who was mauled by a young great white shark in a terrifying attack two years ago on August 15, 2020, was saved by her husband Mark Rapley, who jumped on the creature's back and fought it off in the water near Port Macquarie beach in New South Wales, punching the creature in the face. According to a report by the Mirror, "Chantelle, who still suffers from chronic pain, is now undertaking a grueling 12-week training schedule to get her ready physically and mentally for a charity fight in aid of charity Australian Marine Conservation Society."
A juvenile great white shark, perhaps 10 feet long, knocked 37-year-old surfer Chantelle off her board and mauled her right calf. Mark, acting swiftly, attacked the monster and, with the help of other swimmers, brought Chantelle to shore, where she was checked up by paramedics and sent to a hospital in New South Wales, Australia. Two years of surgery and rehabilitation have helped Chantelle regain a lot of movement and power in her left leg, which she lost after suffering significant nerve damage in the assault in August 2020.
READ MORE
Woman, 39, killed by Great White shark 50ft off shore after going for early morning dip
Breton the Great White Shark leaves scientists BAFFLED by sketching 'self-portrait' using GPS
Still, Chantelle expressed her dissatisfaction with the slow pace of her rehabilitation in an interview with ABC, "My leg is still partially paralyzed. And I had expected a lot more and I was just really sick of feeling like I couldn't function the way I ever used to function. 'So I started boxing.'"
Chantelle, who is still plagued by severe pain, is currently participating in a strenuous training program that will last for twelve weeks in order to prepare her psychologically and physically for a charity fight that will benefit the organization Australian Marine Conservation Society. She has been able to observe changes, such as a new muscle recovery function a couple of weeks ago, and she was even able to execute a cartwheel for the first time in two years only last week.
Boxing, according to Chantelle, has also assisted her in overcoming what she refers to as her "tendency to freeze in a flight or freeze situation," which she claims manifested itself when she was attacked by the shark. Chantelle is passionate about protecting sharks and the environments in which they live, despite the fact that she was attacked by a great white. She now has a deeper knowledge of, and love for, the importance of ocean conservation as a result of the experience, and she is hoping that the charity boxing bout will help raise awareness around the problem. “I think sharks get a pretty bad rep,” Chantelle said.
"I have this crazy vision that Australia could be a global role model for biodiversity and living with nature and I really think we can be.”
Despite the fact that her disability has made surfing difficult, Chantelle has not let it stop her from enjoying other water sports; she has even scuba-dived with a colony of grey nurse sharks, an "amazing" experience in her words.