'The shark wasn't letting go': Brave surfer who fought off a killer great white as it mauled his friend to death reveals new details about shocking attack that left him in need of trauma counselling
- Robin 'Rob' Pedretti, 60, attacked by great white shark south of QLD/NSW border
- Surfers, friend Frank Schlee and another man Mark Hayes, dragged him to shore
- They fought off the shark as it circled them and carried Mr Pedretti to the beach
- Mr Pedretti died on the sand from the horrific injuries from the shark on his thigh
- Family and friends remembered him as humble, fun loving and down to earth
A brave surfer who fought off a monster shark as it mauled his friend to death is having to get trauma counselling due to the horrific experience.
Robin 'Rob' Pedretti, 60, had his leg viciously attacked while surfing at Salt Beach near Kingscliff in far northern New South Wales on Sunday.
The retired tradie from the Gold Coast died on the beach from his injuries a short time later.
His mate, Frank Schlee, along with another Gold Coast surfer, Mark Hayes, risked their own lives to fight off the shark which circled them as they dragged a conscious Mr Pedretti back to shore.
Mr Hayes was so shaken by the scary ordeal he has since had to seek counselling for the trauma.
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Rob Pedretti's heartbroken family released this photo of the experienced surfer whose life was tragically cut short in a shark attack on Sunday
The ocean was retired tiler Rob Pedretti's second home where he surfed on a daily basis
'I saw the whole thing and it was a pretty horrendous thing that happened,' he told the Courier Mail.
'It could have been all of us … either one of us could have died. It was a female shark and she wasn't letting us go.'
Mr Hayes knows he is lucky to be alive and thinks the 3.5metre shark was not getting away without a bite.
He said he expected others to help him if he was struggling in the same situation.
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'In that situation, unfortunately there's not much you can do. It was a terribly sad outcome,' he said.
Friend Mr Hayes, Keith Parsons, said he was 'still struggling as expected' but they all thought he was a hero.
Mr Schlee is still processing the horrific tragedy and has declined talking to the media.
Surfers and friends of Mr Pedretti gathered at his favourite surfing break at Tugan on Monday to mourn the 'gentle giant', where they insisted he wouldn't want the three metre predator to be culled.
As mates gathered at Tugan to remember Mr Pedretti, tributes were also laid at the beach south of the border where he spent his final moments.
Rob Pedretti (pictured) travelled the world chasing waves. He's pictured enjoying life in Indonesia, one of his favourite destinations
A jet ski rider monitors the movements of a massive shark lurking close to shore near where a surfer was mauled to death near Kingscliff on Sunday morning
'He was everyone's mate. He loved surfing and he loved life,' Craig Tulloch told reporters on Monday.
'Loved surfing, loved life. He was starting to enjoy life in retirement.'
Keith Parsons added: 'Great heart. So gentle. Just one of the gentle souls.'
His friends are adamant he wouldn't want the shark to be culled.
'No, not at all. He'd be angry with it though,' Mr Tulloch said.
'We're in the shark's waters,' 'You jump over a fence and there's a dog in the backyard wanting to attack you, then it's your choice isn't it?'
Police plan to recognise the two surfers for their brave and heroic actions at a later date.
'The actions of the two surfers involved yesterday were extraordinary in the circumstances,' Detective Inspector Matt Kehoe said on Monday.
Rob Pedretti (pictured) is the third fatal shark victim in Australia so far this year
Several surfers rushed to help the man fight the shark off before he was dragged to shore. Pictured are emergency service at the harrowing scene
'They put themselves at great personal risk and it certainly warrants recognition.'
Well-known local surfing identity Nev Hyman expressed his shock over the fatal attack south of the border, initially unaware it was his good friend Mr Pedretti.
'He was one of the many people who lived and breathed surfing, we love it more than anything, apart from our loved ones,' Mr Hyman told the Gold Coast Bulletin.
'There is no rhyme or reason to it. Rob didn't do anything wrong and the shark didn't either.'
The Palm Beach Boardriders Facebook page was flooded with tributes, where he was remembered as a real gentleman who was always up for a chat.
'He was a nice bloke who had big chiny smile and never hurt a fly. So sad,' one man wrote.
Another added: 'He was one of the good ones.'
It was confirmed by Surf Life Saving NSW on Tuesday morning that all beaches between Kingscliff and Cabarita have been reopened.
A police boat circled the massive predator before it vanished from the vicinity
Tributes in memory of shark attack victim Rob Pedretti were laid at Salt Beach on Monday
The three-metre great white shark remains at large after escaping a widespread police hunt following the fatal attack.
Helicopters, jet skies and drones scoured the ocean from the water and air to locate the shark responsible for the mauling.
Extraordinary footage shows jet skis and a police boat following the massive predator lurking close to shore before it vanished from the vicinity almost three hours after the fatal attack.
Police had been given authority to capture or kill the shark before it disappeared, which has since been revoked.
'Under the Department of Primary Industry's shark Incident response protocols, permission may be granted to destroy the shark, if it is considered an ongoing threat to human life,' a NSW Police statement read.
Shark attack victim Rob Pedretti (pictured) has been remembered by the Gold Coast surfing community as a real gentleman who loved to chat
The 60-year-old man was surfing at Salt Beach near Kingscliff when his leg was bitten off by a three-metre shark (pictured) about 10.40am Sunday
'Due to concerns that the shark had to be fought off by other board-riders, and that it remained in the vicinity for several hours after the attack, police were granted permission to destroy the shark.
'Police and local rescue helicopter crews monitored the area for some hours; however, the shark left the vicinity about 1.15 pm and has not been seen since.'
No police firearm was discharged in the search.
It's the third fatal shark attack in Australia this year, following the death of Gary Johnson, 57, on Western Australia's south coast in January and Zachary Robba in Central Queensland in April.
It's five years since the last fatal shark attack in northern NSW when Tadashi Nakahara was killed while surfing at Ballina's Shelly Beach.
A memorial paddle-out will be held to celebrate Mr Pedretti's life at Tugun this weekend.
