Port Macquarie shark attack: Toby Begg pictured on his surfboard just moments before attack that left him without a leg

A chilling photo of a surfer has surfaced just before a monster shark, lurking just meters away, was attacked and left with life-changing injuries.

A ripple in the water was the only warning father-of-two Toby Begg, 44, got before he was attacked by a four-metre great white shark Friday morning while surfing about 150 meters off Lighthouse Beach near Port Macquarie in central NSW . north coast.

A photo obtained by Nine news The photo, taken by a photographer on the beach, shows Mr. Begg several feet away from the shark, unaware that his life was about to change forever.

The photo shows Mr Begg holding his surfboard and another fellow surfer who appears to be watching a ripple in the water a few feet away just before the predator attacked.

Mr Begg struggled with the shark for about 30 seconds before being pulled ashore by fellow surfers, with serious injuries from the waist down.

He remains in critical but stable condition at John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle.

He lost one leg and had a second operation to try and save his other leg, as his family broke their silence on Saturday.

“It is still at a very early stage and the extent of his injuries are being revealed,” Chris Lenihan, Mr Begg’s brother-in-law, said in a statement.

“However, he will need many surgeries and has years of rehabilitation ahead of him.”

He launched an online fundraiser that had raised over $30,000 within hours.

Mr Lenihan wrote that his brother-in-law, an experienced builder, was fortunate to have an off-duty emergency doctor on the beach at the time of the attack to help apply a tourniquet using surfboard leg ropes.

The skilled builder and business owner is the main income earner for his young family, which includes “loving partner” Tracy and their two children.

“If you can, please donate to help Toby with medical bills and help with current bills during his recovery. We’ll keep you posted on Toby’s progress.

Another photograph, taken after Mr Begg landed, showed his surfboard breaking just above the fins, while pieces of fiberglass had also been ripped away.

The surfboard has been confiscated by the police.

The local community, a popular local man and father of two, has rallied behind Mr Begg, who is in hospital in a serious but stable condition.

Another photo, taken after Mr Begg landed, shows his surfboard being torn apart just above the fins by what is believed to be about 13 feet in length of a great white shark.

NSW Police Superintendent Martin Burke confirmed that Mr Begg attempted to fight the shark and suffered injuries in the process.

“According to reports, a man tried to fight this shark for 30 seconds and then swam himself to shore where he realized he had sustained significant injuries to his lower legs,” Chief Inspector Burke said.

“From what I understand it was a sustained and prolonged attack.”

An off-duty emergency room doctor happened to be on the beach with the team and jumped in to help tourniquet his leg.

Chief Inspector Burke commended the Doctor for acting at the time of the attack in helping to save Mr Begg’s life.

“Being absolutely lucky to have an emergency department doctor on site are all important things that will lend themselves to giving this gentleman the best chance of survival.”

The man who was viciously attacked by what is believed to be a large white whark has been identified as 44-year-old father-of-two, Toby Begg (pictured)

Paramedics treated the man at the scene before he was rushed to Port Macquarie Base Hospital and later transferred to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle.

The beach remains closed to swimmers, but a dozen surfers were spotted on the water on Saturday.

Surf rescuers were spotted using a drone in an attempt to locate the shark that attacked Mr. Begg.

If found, the shark will most likely be euthanized.