Surfer shares images of his shark-ravaged paddle board after he was knocked off it by a two metre beast
- Veteran surfer suffers close call with terrifying two metre shark 400m out to sea
- Gary May was thrown from his paddle board at a popular spot in Yallingup, WA
- 75-year-old escaped unharmed but had to give up battered board to test for DNA
- Beach to remain closed as authorities desperately search for the killer shark
A surfer has suffered an extremely close call with a two metre shark after spending almost sixty years in the water.
Gary May - who recently turned 75 - decided to celebrate the milestone by taking his paddle board out at the Yallingup Mainbreak Surfing Spot, three hours from Perth.
Almost half a kilometre out to sea Mr May encountered a boisterous two-metre shark, who knocked him from the paddle board, leaving a hefty bite mark behind.
Gary May, 75, was thrown from his paddle board (pictured) from the force of a two metre long shark, leaving behind a hefty bite mark
Mr May relayed his terrifying experience on Facebook group 'Surfin' Perth'.
'After 60 years of not seeing a dangerous shark in the water whilst I was in the water surfing, diving & fishing IT HAPPENED this afternoon at Yallingup', the post began.
Mr May explained he had originally decided to forgo a surf and have lunch with his wife instead, but returned to Yallingup late on Saturday afternoon.
'Halfway out in the deep water (in the) channel to the north, kneeling up paddling, my board was struck suddenly with enough force to fling me forward..' he wrote.
The incident occurred 400m from the shore of a popular surfing spot in Yallingup (pictured)
The experienced surfer was able to haul himself back onto the board but lost his paddle in the process.
Warning a fellow surfer of the encounter, the pair made a beeline for the shore, Mr May recovering his estranged paddle on the way.
'Back in the car park someone phoned the Sharkline & soon the Westpac helicopter was circling with siren blaring to clear the water.'
Mr May finished the post by joking the only bad thing about the encounter was his lack of a back-up board.
It's not known what type of shark it was but investigations will be carried out this week.
Surf Life Saving WA issued a shark warning on Saturday evening after Mr May's close call
'Glad you pulled up in one piece! Bloody close call, thanks for sharing the story', one user commented.
'Hope you bought a lotto ticket. Good to hear you're ok', another said.
Perth Fisheries Officers took Mr May's battered board to test for DNA, but authorities say the specie of the shark is still unknown.
Later that evening Surf Life Saving WA posted a shark warning to twitter, issued for Yallinyup Mainbreak Surfing Spot after Mr May's close call.
Mr May recounted the terrifying experience on Facebook group 'Surfin' Perth' much to the horror of fellow ocean enthusiasts
The Surf Life Saving WA helicopter circled the area conducting surveillance flights.
Local council decided to close the beach 'until further notice' with officers from the Department of Primary Industries unable to locate the shark after extensive patrols.
Land-based patrols resumed early Sunday morning with the popular beach to remain closed, with the situation to be reviewed later in the day.
Both rangers from the Shire of Busselton and officers from the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions will help in efforts to locate the shark.
A spokesperson from Surf Life Saving WA told Daily Mail Australia there had been no sighting of the shark as of Sunday afternoon.
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