In Reply to: shark attack: Diver tells of cheating death in Australia posted by on January 17, 2006 at 10:27:08:

A diver escaped with minor cuts after fending off a 3.5-metre (11ft) great white shark with a spear gun. Brian Williams, 52, was attacked off a Perth beach in Western Australia.

Police said the diver had become separated from the rest of his diving group when the shark attacked from behind, grabbing and biting his left arm. "He hit out at the shark with his spear gun and eventually the shark swam away," Inspector George Putland told ABC news.

The victim is now recovering from his wounds. Last week a woman was killed by sharks off an island near Australia's east coast.

• The Guardian