AN AUSSIE surfer who had his leg bitten off by a great white shark had to be airlifted to hospital after the leg washed up on shore.
Kai McKenzie, 23, was confronted by the predator at North Shore Beach, Port Macquarie at 11am on Tuesday when it attacked him.
The bite was so bad that the pro surfer’s leg washed up on shore, leading to severe blood loss.
The shark even took a chunk out of Kai’s surfboard.
Despite losing a leg, Kai managed to get himself back to shore where an off-duty cop used his dog’s leash as a makeshift tourniquet.
Ambulance crew say that the brave surfer tried to fight the gigantic shark unsuccessfully.
Kirran Mowbray, from the New South Wales (NSW) ambulance service said the policeman’s act “essentially saved Mr McKenzie’s life”.
She said Kai remained “calm” following the traumatic attack and described him as a “brave, courageous young man”.
Onlookers covered Kai’s amputated leg with ice, according to Australian newspaper The Daily Telegraph and paramedics were called to the scene shortly.
Ambulance staff took airlifted Kai and the detached limb to Port Macquarie Base Hospital before he was flown to a major trauma centre over 120 miles away.
North Shore beach is isolated and only accessible by a dirt road.
The Daily Telegraph reported that his leg was transported by ferry across the Hastings River.
Doctors at John Hunter Hospital, in Newcastle, NSW described his condition as “critical but stable” and said he has just had surgery.
It is not yet whether surgeons successfully reattached the severed limb.
Local biologists suspect a three-metre long white shark was responsible for attacking his right leg.
Officials reported that a tagged great white was detected at several locations at nearby Coffs Harbour on Monday and Tuesday.
The sponsored surfer suffered from a significant neck injury and only returned to the sport in January.
His neighbour Lauren Mac set up a GoFundMe page to raise funds for his post-op care and has already exceeded the £51,00 target (AUD $100,000).
It reads: “Kai is currently in John Hunter Hospital where he has had surgery and is in a stable condition.
“As you can imagine, the upcoming medical expenses for his recovery and rehabilitation is something no one would ever be prepared for.
“Please dig deep for this family to assist with Kai’s recovery and rehabilitation.
“They are a local family with hearts of gold that would never expect or ask anything of anybody.”
