The ex-boxer, who went a few rounds with former world champion Jeff Fenech, reckons a punch on the snout of the great white that bit him at Evans Head on July 31, 2015 stunned it and caused it to let go of his left leg.<\/p>\n
While in hospital recovering from his injuries, Mr Ison made a pact with himself: to get over the attack mentally, he would never go surfing again.<\/p>\n
“When I was in hospital I was having some really heavy nightmares,” he said.<\/p>\n
“I would wake up in a sweat because I was in a dream where I had just lost both my legs.<\/p>\n
“I decided there in hospital, that’s it, I’m not going back in the water, and since then I’ve had no trouble.”<\/p>\n
Apart from the occasional swim in the ocean, Mr Ison has kept his promise, and it has had a positive effect on his life.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Craig Ison in Gold Coast University Hospital in August 2015. (ABC News: Tom Forbes)<\/p>\n
“If I was a young bloke, I’d push through it a bit,” he said.<\/p>\n
“But I was 51, so I’d had my fair share of waves and I thought ‘That’ll do me’, and since then I haven’t had any nightmares.”<\/p>\n
Another factor helping Mr Ison’s recovery was Bite Club founder Dave Pearson’s intervention.<\/p>\n
The first rule of Bite Club, a support group for people who have been bitten or witnessed an attack by an apex predator, is you talk about your experiences.<\/p>\n
Whether it was Mr Ison’s attack 10 years ago, or the most recent incident involving a 16-year-old boy at Norries Cove near Cabarita Beach last Sunday, Mr Pearson’s support group has been a much-needed lifeline.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Dave Pearson is one of the founders of Bite Club. (ABC Mid North Coast: Wiriya Sati)<\/p>\n
If you or anyone you know needs help:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Suicide Call Back Service<\/a> on 1300 659 467<\/li>\n
- Lifeline<\/a> on 13 11 14<\/li>\n
- Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander crisis support line 13YARN<\/a>\u00a0on 13 92 76<\/li>\n
- Kids Helpline<\/a> on 1800 551 800<\/li>\n
- Beyond Blue<\/a> on 1300 224 636<\/li>\n
- Headspace<\/a> on 1800 650 890<\/li>\n
- ReachOut<\/a> at au.reachout.com<\/a><\/li>\n
- MensLine Australia<\/a> on 1300 789 978<\/li>\n
- QLife 1800 184 527<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Mr Pearson said attacks like this would have a ripple effect on the community, particularly rescuers, fellow surfers, first responders, and even people who use the beach regularly.<\/p>\n
- Lifeline<\/a> on 13 11 14<\/li>\n