Scott Wright, 34, claimed he was the first man in 70 years to become a shark victim on the world-famous coastline - but reports now suggest it may all have been one big shark tale.
Wright sported a series of bloody lacerations down his arm which he said came from a shark - but the cuts may actually have been caused by glass.
In an heroic tale of survival, he boldly claimed he punched the shark on the nose, swam ashore and lay unconscious on the beach for hours before being discovered by his girlfriend.
"The shark attacked me, grabbed hold of my arm and wouldn't let go," Wright said.
"So I ended up punching him in the nose and trying to fight him off.
"I thought I was a goner, I thought I was gonna die."
But the only place Wright was going to was jail, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
He remains in prison after appearing in court accused of car theft and robbery, the paper said.
The lacerations were apparently caused by putting his arm through a window. And the offences were allegedly committed after the "shark attack".
Police said the attack had not been reported to them.
The SMH reported that sharks are often spotted in deep water off the Bondi coast but rarely venture into shallow waters.
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