A surfer is in a serious but stable condition after a shark attack at Glenfield Beach, north of Geraldton in Western Australia’s Midwest. Authorities said the man was bitten at about 9:45am while surfing at the beach, around 13 kilometres north of Geraldton.
St John Ambulance identified the man as Mel Ismail and took him to Geraldton Health Campus under priority-one conditions. The Western Australian Country Health Service later said he remained in a serious but stable condition, ABC News Australia reported.
Officials removed a badly damaged surfboard from the scene. Police and fisheries staff were examining it as part of an effort to determine the shark species involved. The beach was closed, and residents were asked to avoid the area while authorities responded.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development said fisheries officials were working with local authorities. The department also said no shark activity had been reported to the City of Geraldton in the 30 days before the attack.
Geraldton MP and Shadow Fisheries Minister Kirrilee Warr said the injured man was well known among local surfers and called for a review of the state’s shark mitigation strategy. She said the incident had affected the close-knit community and expressed concern for first responders who attended the scene.
Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis defended Western Australia’s shark protocols, describing them as among the country’s most comprehensive. She said the strategy used a range of measures to improve safety along the coastline and expressed hopes for Mr Ismail’s recovery. The report also noted two fatal shark attacks in Western Australia earlier in 2026.