Forty-one-year-old Bobby Gumm was surfing with friends at South Beach in Newport, Oregon. Surf was about head high, with glassy conditions.
The group was out for about an hour when Ron Clifford says he saw the water boil beneath them.
"I saw the water churning up like there was a bunch of piranhas," said Clifford. "All of a sudden I saw a dorsal fin that was at least two foot in length high and as I saw it the frenzy and stuff I saw the shark actually lift my friend up with the board and everything, it looked like an old geyser or something just lifted him out of the water about 10 feet."
Clifford says they briefly lost sight of Gumm, a married man and a father of five children.
"As I got all the way to shore and stood up I see him on his belly riding in so I knew he didn’t get killed," said Clifford. "He’s very fortunate to be alive to see that board, it took 23 inches off his short board."
Clifford says there is no doubt it was a Great White Shark.
"Well I drive a Dodge Ram and what I saw is, is pretty close to 15-foot he said 12-to-18," said Clifford. "He took two feet of that board down his throat. It’s almost like witnessing your friend almost being murdered."
Gumm is resting at home with his family, grateful to be alive.
"He’s a great short boarder and he said he didn’t want to surf again and he was very blessed that he could see his kids now," said Clifford.
See the original article at: KHON2 Local News
