Local surfer given custom surfboards after helping save Max Marsden from shark attack

The Geraldton Board Riders have come together to give thanks and support a local surfer who came to the aid of Max Marsden after he was bitten by a shark at Lucy’s Beach.

When Marsden was bitten by a shark on April 23, his surfing buddy of 10 years Danny Williams was on hand to come to his aid . He fashioned a tourniquet and contacted emergency services.

After dealing with his injuries, the pair then had to battle another problem with Williams’ four-wheel-drive getting bogged on their way to meet the waiting ambulance.

Having taken his recovery boards out the night before, Williams was forced to use two of his good surfboards to get going and in the process broke them both.

To thank Williams for his heroic efforts, the club did fundraising in order to replace his boards.

Club president Nic Chadbourne said it came as a complete surprise to Williams.

“Danny was unaware as to what was happening and during the presentations for the second club comp on Saturday we got Max and Danny up on stage to present him with these new boards,” he said

“The club along with huge support from both Paul ‘Antman’ Paterson (Channel Islands Surfboards) & Boyd Purdy (Hot Buttered / Yallingup Surf designs) came together for the cause.”

“We also got them custom-designed with the Max Trax logo as a tongue-in-cheek reference to what happened to his last boards.”

In the water, Jake Hagan claimed his second GBR event in a row when he took out the open event with a 14.00 ahead of Mac Carter with a 13.17.

He also won the 19-and-under event with a 13.84 ahead of Callum Sojan 9.50.

Edel Rodden continued her good form with a dominant performance in the women’s open with a 6.83 and 7.33 on her third and fourth waves to be the only competitor to post a double figure score with a 14.16.

Matt Morris won the 35-and-over masters with a 9.50 just ahead of Chadbourne on 8.77.

Much like his son, Deon Hagan also made it two wins from two events smashing the 50-and-over grand master event with a 16.83 including an 8.83 on his third wave.

Leon Plummer won the 16-and-under cadets in a tight battle with Cruz MacDonald, posting 11.33 to Macdonald’s 10.13.