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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Narelle Towie in Perth

‘No one sets out to be brave’: WA surfers who rescued shark attack victim win top bravery award

Australian Bravery Decorations have been awarded to (from left) Jess Woolhouse, Liam Ryan and Alex Oliver, who rescued Phil Mummert (pictured beside his girlfriend Mish Wright) during a shark attack at Bunker Bay, south of Perth in July 2020.
Australian Bravery Decorations have been awarded to (L-R) Jess Woolhouse, Liam Ryan and Alex Oliver, who rescued Phil Mummert (pictured with his girlfriend Mish Wright) during a shark attack at Bunker Bay, south of Perth in July 2020. Photograph: Mish Wright

It wasn’t until Jess Woolhouse was alone in the water, after pulling a bleeding shark attack victim to safety, that the fear finally took hold.

Until that moment, the father of three had been acting purely on instinct when he paddled towards a five-metre great white shark and helped rip Phil Mummert from danger at a surf break at Bunker Bay, 260km south of Perth.

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