Surfer’s leg washed up on beach after surviving great white shark attack

The severed leg of a surfer who survived a great white shark attack later washed up on the beach while the surfer was being treated in hospital for life-saving treatment.

Shortly after the disturbing incident on Tuesday morning (July 23), Kai McKenzie’s right arm was found on the sand of North Shore Beach in the Australian city of Port Macquarie.

According to New South Wales police, locals put the leg on ice before it was taken under the safety lights to Newcastle’s John Hunter Hospital, where the 23-year-old victim was already being treated for serious injuries.

His family are now said to be in talks with vascular surgeons and specialists as doctors try to determine if the limb can be reattached following the terrifying shark attack.

Kai, a sponsored surfer, was surfing the waves at North Shore Beach around 11am when a suspected 10ft great white shark attacked him, ripping off his right leg and taking a large chunk out of his surfboard.

Kai McKenzie was attacked by a great white shark (Nine)

The amazing thing is that he managed to fight off the shark and swim back to shore with a wave. Meanwhile, beachgoers who had witnessed the incident immediately jumped into action and tried to stop his severe blood loss when he reached the sand.

Bystanders and an off-duty police officer walking his dog nearby saw Kai and came to his aid.

The pet’s alert owner then used his dog’s leash as a makeshift tourniquet to stop the bleeding.

Kirran Mowbray, acting duty manager of NSW Ambulance Service Hastings South, praised the off-duty officer, saying he “effectively saved Kai’s life until emergency services arrived”.

Although his leg was completely torn off, the surfer somehow managed to keep his cool, according to Mowbray.

He said: “He was very calm and was able to talk to us – he was completely there. He’s just a very brave and courageous young man.”

The 23-year-old man is currently recovering in hospital. His condition is serious but stable.

The surfer’s right leg was injured and a large chunk was taken out of his board (NSW Police)

Family member Lauren Mac has started a GoFundMe to help Kai and his loved ones financially as he faces “a long road to recovery” — regardless of whether his leg can be re-set.

In a post on the fundraiser, she explained that Kai is “awaiting surgery,” before urging people to “dig deep into their pockets” and donate whatever they can to help raise money for his recovery and rehabilitation.

Lauren added: “The McKenzies are a local family with hearts of gold. They never expect or ask anything from anyone. So let’s give something back and show them that they have the support of the community in doing so.”

The Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) suspects a three-metre white shark is responsible for the attack, with 15 specimens found in the area in the past week.

Kai faces a ‘long road to recovery’ (Instagram/@kai_mckenzie)

“Following the incident, the government shark team has deployed two additional SMART drumlines, in addition to the four that were deployed as usual this morning,” a ministry spokesperson told 9News.

SMART drumlines detect sharks in the area and alert the crew to their presence, then intercept, tag and relocate the predators at sea.

North Shore Beach was also closed after the attack.

Kai received many congratulations online and his surf sponsor Rage posted a message on social media describing him as an ‘inspirational person’.