U.S.BONK-O-METER

Surfer says shark winked at him before biting off his leg

Surfer Mel Ismail was alone at Glenfield Beach in Western Australia when the attack happened, and says he tried to poke the shark's eye.

On air: Dr. Nina Byte and Dale Bearman on The Bonk-o-Meter
Published 3:03 PM ET, Monday, October 12, 2026

At a glance

First reported by Fox News: “Shark attack survivor says as he was trying to poke its eye, the shark winked at him, then bit his leg off”.
Covered on BBN on Monday, October 12, 2026, at 3:03 PM ET on The Bonk-o-Meter, by Dr. Nina Byte and Dale Bearman.

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

Fox NewsShark attack survivor says as he was trying to poke its eye, the shark winked at him, then bit his leg off

Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentSurfer Mel Ismail says that while he was alone at Glenfield Beach in Western Australia, a shark winked at him just before it bit his leg off, and Fox News has his account.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorThe wink is the only part I'm stuck on, and I say that with great respect for the leg.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentMany sharks have a protective eye membrane that slides across, so a flash across the eye can look like a wink to a man in a very bad moment.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorSo it was a polite blink. That's worse.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentIt's an eye covering doing its job during a bite, and I'm not calling his experience false, only the shark's intentions.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorIntentions?
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentSharks don't signal anything with it, so the wink is a Mildly Bonkers reading, and the attack itself is simply real.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorI'm going Full Bonkers on the wink, and a very sincere zero bonks for the man who survived.