The veteran surfer and founder of the Bite Club – an exclusive group for those who have survived a shark attack – was taken by a bull shark at Crowdy’s South Side in 2011. Pearson and the Bite Club were later the subject of a report in the Sydney Morning Herald’s Good Weekend magazine.

He was surfing at Crowdy Bay recently when a shark – believed to be either a bronze whaler or a bull shark– came within 50 metres of him and a group of surfers.

“My mate immediately put his hand over his head signifying a fin – that’s the signal used now to say there’s a shark around,’’ Pearson explained.

The shark did circle the other surfer, who Pearson said was ‘pretty shaken.’

Pearson said the water was murky following rain and there were bait fish around. He’s been bumped a couple of times by sharks since 2011 but that hasn’t stopped his love of surfing and the ocean. However, with summer approaching he warns beach goers to be careful and to  also take heed of the conditions.

“And that’s not just for sharks – especially keep an eye out for your kids in the surf,’’ he said.