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Rosy Hodge / image: © SPEX
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"This was the heaviest thing that has ever happened to me," said professional surfer Greg Emslie after an encounter with a massive white shark at Queensbury Bay yesterday - Sat 22 May.
An idyllic surf at the Eastern Cape point break, with fellow professional surfer Rosy Hodge, came very close to ending in tragedy, with Emslie being relentlessly circled and buzzed by a great white, and Rosy almost paddling straight into the danger zone.
"The whole thing must have taken about three to four minutes, but it felt like absolute ages,"said Greg. "I had plenty of time to size it up, and it was probably about four metres in length. It was like right out of the water. Both fins out, just staring at me. We had full eye contact for most of the time as well, just fully sussing each other out the whole time."
East London is well-known for shark encounters and attacks, and there was an attack a few weeks ago down the road at Port Alfred. While this didn’t lead into an attack, it was enough to rattle the two surfers properly. "I was just thinking, this is it," said Greg. "I’m going to get hit. It kept on coming at me, while I sat with my feet up on my board."
Rosy had just caught a wave and had ridden it in. When she started paddling back out, she had no idea what was going on. as Rosy recalls, "Then Greg started shouting and I thought, ‘Oh cool, he’s claiming my wave.’" Rosy continued to paddle. "Earlier in the day we had had some dolphins around and when I saw the two fins I thought there were two dolphins by Greg. As I got close I saw that it was a gaint shark, showing it’s dorsal and tail fin, and I realised that Greg was in serious trouble."
The shark continued to circle Greg, occasionally darting towards him and then veering off. "All I could think about was that I hadn’t said goodbye to my wife and kids," said Greg of those panicky moments. "We had been to a kids party in the morning so my wife and kids had fallen asleep, exhausted, and I slipped out for a surf. I always say goodbye to them, and this time I didn’t." Greg is married to Chantel and has a son Dave, aged three and a daughter Taylor, aged one.
Rosy takes up the story. "Greg shouted at me to go in, and I remember saying ‘What about you?’ but there wasn’t much I could do so I headed over the rocks."
"Rosy was so brave," said Greg. She was wanting to help me, but if the shark had checked her it might have gone into attack mode, so she did the right thing and headed in."
Then a wave appeared. "The shark was watching me so closely, we were just staring at each other. full on eyeball to eyeball. The shark definitely checked the wave as well, and was waiting to see what I was going to do. It was so close and the situation was so tense, and I thought that if I started paddling, it would simply attack. so I waited until the last split second. I did like one stroke, caught the wave and went left and straight over the bricks."
Rosy was desperately clambering over the rocks. "I was climbing over the rocks and I turned around and saw Greg on the rocks. I was so relieved, it was beyond belief. I started crying on the beach. It was all so scary," said Rosy. Even hours after the incident she was still emotional about it all. "Flip, I still felt completely vulnerable even on dry land. I ran home. My home overlooks the point, and I asked my mom, where’s dad? My dad had gone to the shop to by onions. The most radical thing happens to Greg and I, in full view of my house, and my dad had gone off to buy some onions."
What does this mean for these East London surfers and their water time?
"Well, first things first, I’m going to church," said Emslie. "I’m serious."
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ali:
keep religion out of it
2011-04-01 23:07:23
Surfguru:
Surfing is spiritual enough, no god needed .
2010-10-11 04:42:26
This Is GOD Speaking:
This IS god. It was I who saved you Greg. I was responsible for the invisible barrier between you and the shark and that is what prevented you from being attacked I was just trying to make up for what happened in Rwanda a few years ago...I was making tea at the time...doh!). I expect you to attend church each and every Sunday for the rest of your life. In return, I will make sure you never again get caught inside, and every wave you get will be the deepest, sickest shack possible. Amen!
2010-06-04 12:29:10
Josh:
Everyone has a choice Grant. that is the stupidest thing i have ever heard.
2010-06-04 09:37:29
Grant:
I have respect for people who use logic and reason....not fantasy. And you are correct, I have as much clue about the tooth fairy as I do about god. Neither exist. My comment was not about god saving him, because clearly I don't think that. The offense comes with people who comment that it was god who saved him. Big difference.Rather keep that to yourself.
I do have sympathy for people who believe in "god" as most haven't had a choice...they have been taught to believe in god by their parents and society and what you are taught as a child generally stays with you for most of your life. Unfortunately, questioning a belief that you have held since you were a child is not something that most people do. It always amazes me that otherwise intelligent people hold a belief that is so clearly delusional. As the saying goes, "you never know until you know", and once a previously god fearing person engages their brain and thinks for themselves, there is no returning to the delusional phase of their life. Respect? No god-believer is worthy in my book....
Book of Grant 8ft: 15sec SW: light SE
2010-06-04 01:16:14
curt:
not what you want
2010-06-03 17:55:41
rasish:
I have had an all to close encounter with a shark at Byron Bay. Like you i was at its mercy and for reasons i guess only god knows it let me be. Damm you were lucky, it's like the shark was honing it's skills. Like the old saying goes " it's the ones you don't see"
Glad everything worked out guys, nature has a way of making one feel so helpless at times.
2010-06-02 20:15:55
God:
Thanks for all the big ups guys and girls. Haven't seen so much attention coming my way on a surf site for ages. Greg did you go to church the next day? I can't remember if i saw you, we had a bit of a skop up here Saturday night.
2010-06-02 10:12:33
frewuigi:
Greg and Rosy ,
glad to hear it all worked out in the end . Greg man , nerves of titanium mate , its quite hard not to panic when a beast is sizing you up .I would panic. It does change your life and it really makes you appreciate everything sooo much more . Hope that theres some good surf coming to your town this week , get out there guys , cars are lot more dangerous than sharks .
Gambler man(Skunk- Punk ) , the reel sharks are the ones behind the card deck and if people want to thank God or Buddha or who-ever ... thats great .
2010-05-31 22:18:09
Andre:
Bliksem, I got "hoendervleis" reading this.
I am trying to figure out why the shark didn't attack? Glad it didn't,
I think he knew Greg isn't a Bulls supporter!
2010-05-31 21:23:42
Aaron:
Well, it's clear that the Lord has gotten our attention with this one!
I pray that we will all consider our lives and that true life is found in Jesus Christ! He is Creator and sovereign King, and I thank Him that he protects both Greg and Rosy!
Check out Nehemiah 9:5-6 and Luke 8:22-25!
2010-05-31 20:32:57
Trev of you.:
Sorry to hear what happened. I'm sure it scared the daylights out of you. Really happy nothing happened to you both. Guys lets not over look nature. What happens when I lion checks out a little buck and then for some reason decides to leave it for another pray latter, is that G-R-A-C-E too. The universe is awesome and GOD is awesome but lets not get all religious about it. Remember GOD created the ocean and allows us to enjoy it. Just look what we ultimately do to it.
2010-05-31 19:58:02
bobby:
thats hectic and I am glad to see that you managed the situation very well cause I doubt very much whether god had anything to do with the out come ...keep the faith bra..
2010-05-31 13:38:02
Like:
Emslie has it right.... Mate you better thank G-d for the divine intervention!!!
2010-05-31 08:20:10
Ozzythom:
Crap! close call... I saw a penguin surfing the other day on the east coast of oz and it freaked the S#%t outa me, til i realised what it was... We tread a fine line every time we enter the water here in Australia, South Africa and the west coast of the USA... but it'll never stop me headin out in the line up... dont forget to pray to Huey!!
2010-05-31 06:12:41
woohoo:
Mate you better thank Buddah for his divine intervention.
2010-05-31 01:19:37
Anderson:
Hi all,
This story was spooky. I am writing from Oz and have surfed in East London before. I can just picture all the drama you two went through. Gosh! I am so happy to hear you guys are ok. I have had enough of shark attack stories here in Australia. They were all pretty sad. I am very glad you guys have escaped intact from this one.
Good on you!!! Love you guys and love South Africa too.
2010-05-29 14:01:46
Shaun in West Oz:
Greg/Rosy...Nooit bru - heavy ek se! Whez my buddy Lampeez to get the footage when you need him?! Get that doco done Foot, I'm still waiting....See you okes next time I'm back in Slummies. Stay safe.
2010-05-29 06:31:08
Matthew:
Had a similar experience at JBay (The Point) many years ago; it was 2-3 foot, slightly onshore and just me and my mate out surfing just after sunset. A shark pulled up about 10 metres away with its dorsal fin and tail fin showing (about a metre and a half gap between the fins). It turned in our direction and that same second my mate and I paddled as fast as we could towards the rocks, we were just waiting to feel a knock on our boards but thankfully it never came.
PS: to the Humanist/Atheists on this board, humanistic beliefs (Stalin, Mao, Lenin, to name but a few) has killed more people in the last century than all religions combined in the entire history of mankind.
Good on you Greg, may Yahweh bless you. I once surfed out at Boneyards just with you out. You make us Saffas proud!
2010-05-28 14:27:35
mark fessler:
What a horrible experience, glad you you allright, take care. frenchy
2010-05-28 13:58:44
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