“He’s a champion. Mick stood up against the
cruise ship plans and backed the community
didn’t he? To see how his reaction was, reacting
quite normal at first and then slowly having the
realisation and all kick in ... I suppose it takes
some time to process it all, and that’s when
you start to really think about it.”
As if the recent string of shark encounters
consuming the local media pages and airwaves
along with Fanning’s internet-breaking incident
weren’t enough, cruel irony itself would strike
again. As unbelievable as it sounds, both
surfers had a shuddering start back in the
water, each having a shark come at them on
home turf. Mick jumped on a jetski during
his 60 Minutes shoot, leaving the water after
seeing a dorsal fin cruising the line up towards
him, and Mike, on just his second surf back,
had a large shark make a direct line towards
him just off Surfers Paradise - inside the shark
nets and drumlines.
Riding the same board he rode at Lennox that
day, Mike sits out the back in front of his Surfers
Paradise home and takes us step-by-step
through his incredible run of events, including
the nerve-racking first few surfs back “Three or four days went by and I went back
out, back here in Surfers Paradise. It was just
super small, super clean conditions, and you’re
looking at every shadow. Everywhere you’re
looking at all the shadows and anything that
moves. There was only one person out near
me, and yeah ... you don’t want to be there. I
didn’t stay out for very long.
Mike Hoile is concise and courageous
as he tells his story from the back of
the line up - detailing his unusual run of
events whilst waiting again for the next
wave // Photo Luke Sorensen
“The second session that I went back, was the
one that was the biggest shock. It was just a
quick surf before work, in front of Tower 37. I
paddled out the back, and twenty metres off
to my right I see this shark swimming towards
me. This is supposed to be my recovery period,
where I’m supposed to be mending my head!
Who would have expected (this), I mean what
are the odds? I mean in the space of three