David Pickering, Shark Attack Victim, Describes His Close Encounter In Western Australia (VIDEO)

An Australian man is recovering after becoming the country's third shark attack victim this month.

David Pickering, 26, was leading a group of snorkelers at Coral Bay in Western Australia this week when he was attacked by a 10-foot tiger shark, reported the Associated Press.

Pickering explained that as the shark bit his arm, he punched it with his free arm to escape. The man was able to warn his fellow snorkelers and swim 300 feet to shore before he was flown to Perth for treatment, according to AP.

He joked in the video about his harrowing escape, "The worst thing was that I couldn't see if he was coming back for seconds."

A worker in Coral Bay told Perth Now that shark attacks in the area are uncommon. "We haven't had an attack here in 10 or 15 years and it just happened out of the blue. Everyone is very shocked," said Sunny Rayudu.

According to BBC News, Australia usually averages about three shark attacks per year, making 2012 an unusual year so far. The two other attacks this month both took place along Australia's east coast.

The first attack of the year, at North Avoca beach near Sydney, left a man escaping to shore covered in blood. But after reaching a local hospital, he was found to be in "satisfactory condition."

Despite the apparent frequency of shark attacks, human attacks on sharks are far more common. A study by the University of Florida found that up to 70 million sharks are killed annually by fishing fleets.

WATCH:

Comments

[XS VENOM]

09:41 PM on 01/25/2012

If that guy ever gave up surfing he could always become the next Ronald McDonald.

[Lauren N Bridges]

03:52 PM on 01/24/2012

Dane Cook is somewhere dying in ecstasy that this ACTUALLY happened.

[chuckleboy]

03:45 PM on 01/24/2012

He was lucky that it was a tiger shark and not a great white. I don't think that he would still be alive to tell his fabulous story. When will people learn to stay out of ocean waters where sharks are known to exist ???? People put themselves at the bottom of the food chain when swimming in the ocean !!!! Hello !!!

[MikeWebster]

01:36 AM on 02/02/2012

People like swimming. There's very few shark attacks.

[Terri Skau]

01:39 AM on 02/02/2012

Terri Skau Well that picture of him he looks like he getting ready to fart...;-0

I wanted to let you know that you post back I've read but it's still pending in limbo.

so I wanted to tell you. LOL...I wouldn't be surprised...;-) Fanned ya

[themarsist]

04:06 PM on 01/22/2012

The widespread and wholesale massacre of sharks seems like the next logical step.

[dannywanny]

08:36 PM on 01/23/2012

Only in your mind.

[chuckleboy]

03:49 PM on 01/24/2012

The killing of sharks should probably be used to some degree to curb its rising population, however, it needs to be somewhat regulated. This is due to the fact that if we extinct this species then it could adversely affect our environment as a whole.

[MikeWebster]

01:37 AM on 02/02/2012

Sharks numbers are diminishing in general. I think the great white, which has been involved in many more attacks than usual over the last few years, is on the endangered lists.

It is not increases in numbers that are causing the increase in shark attacks. It is the fact that the shark's usual food supplies are reduced or disappearing.

[Chaunce Stanton]

11:45 AM on 01/22/2012

Heh...Maybe the other "snorkelers" didn't see the bobber attached to his leg go under, and so they didn't set the line in time.

[PlayTOE]

06:43 AM on 01/22/2012

From now on, when David Pickering has fish 'n chips he will be able to remember what it feels like to be on the wrong side of the menu.

[MikeWebster]

01:38 AM on 02/02/2012

You think the Shark was going to deep fry him?

[raccoons are kinda pesty]

04:38 AM on 01/22/2012

I'd like to take a bite out of him. (Insert sexy music)

[Mitchell Roffer]

08:58 PM on 01/21/2012

Too many people feeding sharks.

[MikeWebster]

01:39 AM on 02/02/2012

It's no wonder when people are out there every day handing fish to white pointers, and patting them, that an accident eventually happens.

[anibeats]

08:24 PM on 01/21/2012

We know enough about these predators to know that they are not dolphins who will carry a human to shore. Why are continuing to swim in their water? WITH CHILDREN? Sorry but that is the epitome of irresponsible behaviour. Go snorkeling in safer waters!

Glad the ginger cutie is OK though :)

[FCJYP]

08:36 PM on 01/21/2012

Yes, years ago we had no idea that sharks were dangerous.

[MikeWebster]

01:41 AM on 02/02/2012

The car ride to the beach is vastly more likely to kill you, and your children than the extremely rare occurence of a shark attack. Drownings would also vastly outnumber deaths from shark attacks.

People need to get their heads around the real nature or risk a little better. Sure sharks are scary, but drowning and car accidents are massively more likely to kill you.

[Genders]

08:18 PM on 01/21/2012

They should be using the shark tethers.

[bmitche]

03:32 PM on 01/21/2012

Being in their territory, what can you expect?

[mclown69]

03:30 PM on 01/21/2012

Judo chop!!!!

[OutAtFirst]

03:15 PM on 01/21/2012

He's gotta get laid with a story like that: That's right, he bit me and I punched him in the shark face

[FCJYP]

08:03 PM on 01/21/2012

Why doesn't it surprise me that "OutatFirst" thinks this will get Carrot Top laid?

[hman570]

02:56 PM on 01/21/2012

I guess we will never stop people from taking chances and put themsleves in harms way. All I can say if you like taking chances and want to risk your life that is up to you. Don't bellyache after words. tired of hear how lucky some people are that live thru something like this.

[FCJYP]

08:10 PM on 01/21/2012

Tell me hman. How long have you been trying to stop people form taking chances? Maybe you should focus on the hman and make him a better person.

[hman570]

09:44 PM on 01/21/2012

You will never find anyone better then HMan, bub, he is a very special and kind person that gives and befriends all sorts of people. I can tell by your replly that you would not make a good friend to anyone but yourslef.

[MikeWebster]

01:42 AM on 02/02/2012

You mean like getting in a car, or walking down a set of stairs, or just about anything else that is vastly more likely to kill you than the threat of shark attack?

[jrp1947]

02:50 PM on 01/21/2012

the simple reality is that it eat or be eaten. Get in the shark's environment and he is going to try and eat you. They don't sign treaties, agree to no kill zones, or pass laws about murder. Sharks live to eat and they just eat and eat and if you are available then they will eat you as well.

[FCJYP]

08:20 PM on 01/21/2012

I feel you JRP. Your simple reality is so simple.

[FlyingMako]

07:25 PM on 01/22/2012

If that were the case then there would be a lot more people being killed by sharks each year than the average 5 or 6. Sharks are not murderers, killers sometimes yes, but there is a difference. People are not on the menu either otherwise you would actually here about people being eaten rather than bitten. Believe me, if a small 10 foot tiger shark wanted to eat a person, it would. We are terrible choices for shark as our lean muscle and dense bones are hard to digest and actually cost sharks more energy to do so than they gain from digesting us. So put away the Capt. Quint routine and learn some facts.

[MikeWebster]

01:46 AM on 02/02/2012

A good punch to the nose is suggested to cause a little pain the shark though. Of course it it is truly in a feeding frenzy, or found you particularly tasty, they wouldn't pay any attention to it.