A young surfer lost his leg after fighting off a 10-foot shark. He joked about losing his leg less than a week after the devastating attack.
Kai McKenzie was taken to hospital with his severed leg after he was attacked on Tuesday at remote North Shore Beach, near Port Macquarie on the New South Wales north coast.
The 23-year-old man managed to fend off the shark and paddle to shore, where he was helped by an off-duty police officer who used his dog’s leash to stop the bleeding.
Mr McKenzie was seriously injured in the attack, but on Monday he shared an update on social media showing him at his hospital bedside, flanked by supporters.
“Are you missing something?” he joked in his Instagram post about his missing leg.
“It’s so nice to have so many great people behind me, I really appreciate that.”
Mr McKenzie’s leg washed up on the beach and was taken to John Hunter Hospital but could not be re-attached.
A GoFundMe page set up by Mr McKenzie’s neighbour Lauren Mac had raised more than $165,000 for the surfer’s treatment and recovery as of Monday morning.
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The shocking, chewed-up remains of Kai McKenzie’s surfboard after last week’s shark attack
In an update on Saturday, the Bonny Hills resident said it was “everything” that he survived the attack and was able to hold on to his loved ones.
Mr McKenzie vowed he would be back in the water “in no time” as he thanked those who had contributed to the Gofundme page set up in his honour
“Man ohh f***ing man I’m here right now just to hold my beautiful Eve. My family means the world to me,” he posted on Saturday alongside a photo of himself embracing his girlfriend.
‘A few days ago I experienced a crazy shark attack (the biggest shark I’ve ever seen). It was a very crazy scene and I was scared to death, but to all you kindhearted people, to all you legends, to everyone: your support means the world to me.
‘I can tell you right now, if you know my personality, this means f*** all. I’ll be right back in that water!
‘BIG THANKS TO THAT SHARK and BIG THANKS to Steve for saving my life.’
Mr McKenzie was attacked by the predator on Tuesday morning at North Shore Beach north of Port Macquarie, on the mid-north coast of New South Wales.
He fought off the shark and came back to shore on a wave, losing a lot of blood and having a chunk bitten out of his surfboard.
“Man ohh f***ing man to be here right now just to hold my beautiful Eve and my family is everything to me,” he posted on Saturday alongside a photo of him embracing his girlfriend
An off-duty police officer used his dog’s leash as a makeshift tourniquet until emergency services arrived and took Mr McKenzie to Port Macquarie Base Hospital.
The off-duty officer was among the beachgoers who went to Mr McKenzie’s aid after he emerged from the water.
After his leg washed up on the beach, it was put on ice and taken to hospital with police lights and sirens blazing, the Daily Telegraph reported.
Mr. McKenzie’s Devastated Lovers admitted that Mr McKenzie faces a “long road to recovery” regardless of whether the limb can be reattached.
Neighbor Lauren Mac has a GoFundMe after the attack.
“It’s so cool to see so many beautiful people supporting me,” Mr. McKenzie wrote in his post.
Mr McKenzie was attacked by the predator on Tuesday morning at North Shore Beach north of Port Macquarie, on the NSW mid-north coast
‘There are so many messages to get back to but I just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone for your generous donations on the go fund me page. We are so incredibly grateful for everything,’
NSW Ambulance Officer Kirran Mowbray told media Mr McKenzie’s efforts to fight off the shark and get back to shore were an astonishing act of bravery.
“He saw the shark, he fought it off. He turned around and brought a wave to shore. He’s very brave,” she said.
It was previously reported that Mr McKenzie had only recently returned to the water after breaking his neck.
“So happy to be surfing again after breaking my neck,” McKenzie posted on Instagram in January.
He is described as a ‘legendary guy’ and an experienced surfer, sponsored by famous brands.