Lifesaver on the mend after Merimbula shark attack sees beaches shut MonMonday 15 MarMarch 2021 at 4:20am Michele Bootes was swimming with a friend when a shark attacked her in shallow water at a Merimbula beach. ( Share Print text only Cancel It took more than 20 years in the water as a Surf Life Saving (SLS) volunteer on the New South Wales Far South Coast before Michele Bootes had an encounter with a shark. Key points: The DPI is still trying to determine what species attacked Ms Bootes Surf Life Saving encourages people to check the water before hopping in Early on Saturday morning Ms Bootes was swimming in the shallows at Merimbula's Main Beach with a friend when she felt a blunt force hit her body.