A HOLIDAYMAKER was attacked by a three metre great white shark on East London’s Eastern Beach on Tuesday. David van Staden, 26, a South African working in New Zealand, who is on holiday in the Eastern Cape, was surfing with Natasha Bastenie when he was attacked but escaped with 10 stitches to his leg. Describing the attack, he said: “I first thought it was Natasha just fooling around, but suddenly I saw this thing swimming around me and I paddled as fast as I could to the shore.” Marine services chief Willie Maritz said warned surfers to be vigilant as the water was cool and clear and sharks were attracted by the presence of sardines.