Billy Eitz is your quintessential reluctant hero.

Despite saving the life of Forster boardrider Colin Rowland who was attacked by what is believed to have been a great white shark last week, Billy has shied away from telling his complete story to the media.

He did appear briefly on Channel 7 news.

The label hero just doesn’t sit comfortably with Billy who says he simply did what he had to do.

“I had to save Colin, I had nowhere else to go,” he claims.

Before Colin’s close encounter with the jaws of a great white, the pair had never officially met; just the occasional nod of acknowledgement in the streets of Forster.

But, now the men will forever be members of a unique group of survivors.

Billy, Colin and Greg (another stranger) had been sitting on their boards about 100 metres from the shoreline – just behind the break –  at The Ruins, on the southern end of Seven Mile Beach last Thursday morning.

The trio had been waiting for that illusive wave, but at the same time enjoying the peace and watching a pod of about 20 dolphins.

“I’ve had a few experiences with dolphins, and these were just acting weird,” Billy said.

“They were hanging around and sitting on top of the water.

“I’d never seen that before.”

The stillness of the morning was shattered when Colin let out an almighty expletive; Billy turned to see him being flung into the air.

It took Billy just a nano-second to realise what had happened and what he had to do.

When I realised it was a shark attacking Colin my initial thought was ‘holy shit’ and my gut just dropped, he said.

“It was a mess, the shark was dunking him up and down.”

Strangely, there was no clear evidence to Billy’s eye of blood.

With adrenalin pumping Billy paddled the 10 metres to Colin as fast as he could, all the while fearful the monster four metre shark would return for a second session.

By sheer luck, or the shark’s disinterest in the pair, it left the scene enabling Billy to quickly get Colin off what remained of his board and paddle safely to shore.

Billy’s Partner Laura Wilson was on the beach at the time, but didn’t know what had happened until the two men reached shore.

“She thought I’d snapped my board.”

Without delay Laura raised the alarm, Colin was treated by paramedics and transported to Pacific Palms Bowling Club for air transfer to John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle.

With news of the attack splashed across the radio and television, Billy was reluctantly forced to tell his mum Monica about the confrontation, and ultimately saving the life of a fellow surfer.

“I wasn’t going to tell her,” he said.

“She is very happy I am still alive.”

Colin and Billy have spoken on the phone about their ordeal, and plan to catch up soon, and maybe catch a wave.

Billy has already faced his fears of another meeting with a shark, returning to the water the next day for a swim.

But, it was just a quick swim, Billy said.

In the 12 years 25-year-old Billy has been surfing, he has seen a number of sharks from a relatively close distance.

“Growing up in Tea Gardens I have seen a lot there over the years.”

But, this was his first close encounter with a shark of any description.

Billy has returned to Tea Gardens to continue decking out the couple’s Toyota Coaster bus in preparation for a trip around Australia early next year.

The chef had been working in Forster at the time of the attack.