Harrison Williams surfing the whale carcass off Rottnest last Saturday.
Camera IconHarrison Williams surfing the whale carcass off Rottnest last Saturday. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Quinns Rocks resident defends surfing whale carcass surrounded by sharks

Elizabeth Fabri, North Coast TimesNorth Coast Times

‘It was for a rush basically; I only saw a small shark there at the time so that’s why I didn’t hesitate,’ he said.

The 23-year-old thrill seeker said he was out on a boat off Rottnest at the time with friends who suggested he swim out to the humpback carcass to surf it.

‘Basically the way I see it is a life with no risks is a life half lived, and I’m just living mine,’ he said.

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Mr Williams said snowboarding, heli-skiing, bungy jumping and wakeboarding were other extreme sports he has conquered.

‘A lot of people are saying I’m an idiot and yes it was a stupid thing to do but really, who are the idiots who let a 30-tonne whale carcass wash up on to one of Perth’s most popular beaches? I’m sure there would have been a much cheaper option than dragging it off the beach.

‘People say I’m irresponsible and I put other people’s lives at risk if something went wrong but I think it was pretty irresponsible to let it wash up at Scarborough which truly did put people’s lives at risk.’

Mr Williams said though his parents were not proud of the stunt, his mum had now come to the realisation that boys will be boys.

More: Whale of an operation to remove carcass