Sydney: A young British doctor has described punching a shark that leapt from the water to attack him as he surfed off Australia's eastern coast, escaping with bite marks to his shoulder and arm.
The 25-year-old, named in local media as Charlie Fry, was surfing with three others at Avoca Beach in New South Wales state north of Sydney on Monday when the shark "jumped out of the water and hit him in the right shoulder", police said.
"I saw a shark's head come out of the water, with its teeth, and I just punched it in the face," Fry told commercial broadcaster Channel Nine Tuesday.
"It was just pure adrenaline, I genuinely thought I was going to die, like 'you're about to be eaten alive by a shark', so everything slowed down, like 'get on your board and surf'."
The Briton thought the shark was up to six feet long (1.5-1.8 metres), although a local helicopter rescue service said later that a three metre great white and a three metre bronze whaler shark were spotted off Avoca.
Fry, who was able to surf back to the beach with his friends, was not seriously hurt and initially did not even realise he had been bitten.
"I didn't feel the teeth going in, it felt like I was smacked, it felt like a hand, a hand grabbing me, shaking me," he said, calling the attack a "close call".
"It could have easily taken my hand. I count myself very lucky."
There have been 16 shark encounters and attacks off the island continent's vast coastline this year, including the death of a 17-year-old girl mauled in full view of her parents in Western Australia.
Experts say incidents are increasing as water sports become more popular and baitfish move closer to shore, but fatalities remain rare.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
The 25-year-old, named in local media as Charlie Fry, was surfing with three others at Avoca Beach in New South Wales state north of Sydney on Monday when the shark "jumped out of the water and hit him in the right shoulder", police said.
"I saw a shark's head come out of the water, with its teeth, and I just punched it in the face," Fry told commercial broadcaster Channel Nine Tuesday.
The Briton thought the shark was up to six feet long (1.5-1.8 metres), although a local helicopter rescue service said later that a three metre great white and a three metre bronze whaler shark were spotted off Avoca.
Advertisement
"I didn't feel the teeth going in, it felt like I was smacked, it felt like a hand, a hand grabbing me, shaking me," he said, calling the attack a "close call".
Advertisement
There have been 16 shark encounters and attacks off the island continent's vast coastline this year, including the death of a 17-year-old girl mauled in full view of her parents in Western Australia.
Advertisement
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Australian Man Fights Off Great White Shark After It Latches Onto Son's Leg Shark Attack Frenzy: Fatalities Double Worldwide, Australia Hit Hardest Shark Attacks Woman Swimming At Australia Beach, Mauls Her Leg In Massive Row Over Karnataka 100% Quota Bill, Chief Minister Deletes Post Dubai Princess Shaikha Mahra Divorces Husband In Insta Post, Cites Reason 25,000 Aspirants For Airport Jobs Paying Rs 22,000: A Mumbai Stampede Scare Rs 1,200 Crore Needed For India's Electric Car Revolution: Top Scientist Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Break 64-Year Royal Tradition In Surprise Move Hyundai Exter vs Tata Punch: Which CNG Option Is Better On Paper? Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.