A seasoned Florida surfer had a close call with a shark that left him shaken but undeterred, returning to surf the waves from Hurricane Helene just days after the incident.
Surfer Survives Shark Attack and Returns to Chase Hurricane Waves
Charley Hajek, 62, known locally as “Gnarly Charley,” was riding waves at New Smyrna Beach on Sept. 22 when he unexpectedly stepped onto a bull shark.
“I hopped off my board and landed right on top of it,” Hajek recounted to SWNS. “We both freaked out.”
The veteran surfer felt the unmistakable pressure of something biting down on his ankle and foot, quickly realizing it was a shark. “It wasn’t thrashing around, just a quick bite and release, like it was saying ‘don’t mess with me,’” he said.
‘Gnarly Charley’ Faces a Shark, Hurricane, and Lives to Ride Again
Despite the encounter, Hajek was back in the water soon after, continuing his passion for chasing waves, even during extreme weather. Filled with adrenaline, the seasoned surfer, Charley Hajek, made his way back to shore, quickly realizing the severity of his injury when blood started pouring from his leg.
“The moment I took that first step on the beach, blood just started gushing out. That’s when I knew it was serious,” Hajek explained.
Thinking fast, he used his surfboard leash as a makeshift tourniquet before driving himself to the hospital, where he received 10 stitches. But true to his daredevil nature, Hajek was back in the water just five days later on Sept. 27, catching waves fueled by Hurricane Helene.
“I had barely taken the stitches out, and there I was chasing the hurricane swells,” he laughed. “It sounds crazy, but it makes for a great story.”
After Shark Attack, Daredevil Surfer Stays Fearless in the Eye of the Storm
Not one to slow down, Hajek continued riding the waves from Oct. 11 to 13 as Hurricane Milton’s storm surge rolled in, proving that even a shark attack couldn’t keep him away from the thrill of surfing.
Recalling a close encounter with nature’s fury, Charley Hajek shared, “I watched tornadoes form right behind the house I was staying at in Jensen Beach, with coconuts crashing onto the roof. It was pretty scary.”
Since his shark encounter, Hajek has spotted 11 sharks and realized the real danger lies in surfing near jetties. “Sharks are mostly harmless, but I stepped on one, so I got bit. When you surf in the shark pit, that’s truly gnarly.”
Reflecting on his love for storm-chasing, Hajek added, “Emotionally, I had to move past the shark attack. Storms are my passion—wherever they go, I follow. But it’s all about respecting the ocean, respecting sharks, and respecting hurricanes. Be prepared, not scared.”
