Surfer whose leg was bitten off by a shark gets his limb reattached after it washes up on the beach

A young surfer who lost his leg in a fight with a shark on a remote beach has undergone surgery to reattach his limb after it washed up on the beach.

Kai McKenzie was surfing at North Shore Beach, near Port Macquarie on the New South Wales north coast, when he was attacked by a suspected three-metre great white shark on Tuesday morning.

After paddling to shore, the 23-year-old was rescued by an alert, off-duty police officer who used his dog’s leash to stop the bleeding.

The surfer’s severed leg washed up on the beach, where it was placed on ice by a growing crowd of bystanders before being rushed to hospital with police lights and sirens blaring, New South Wales police said.

Mr McKenzie and his leg were both airlifted to hospital, where he has now undergone surgery to reattach the leg, Nine News reports.

Mr McKenzie managed to fend off the shark and returned to shore with a wave, suffering serious injuries to his legs and a chunk bitten out of his surfboard

An off-duty police officer used his dog’s leash as a makeshift tourniquet until emergency services arrived

The 23-year-old lost his leg in the attack, which washed up on the beach and was put on ice by a growing crowd of onlookers

After reviewing photos of the injuries, New South Wales government shark biologists suspect a three-metre great white shark was involved in the attack, causing “serious injuries” to the surfer’s right leg.

It is believed he managed to fend off the shark and glide back to shore on a wave, losing a lot of blood and having a chunk bitten out of his surfboard.

The initial beach closures have ended, Port Macquarie Hastings ALS Lifeguards said in a statement on Wednesday. North Shore Beach is isolated and largely accessible only by a dirt road.

Mr. McKenzie’s loved ones were heartbroken and told him he might never walk normally again.

A GoFundMe page set up by Lauren Mac, Mr McKenzie’s neighbour, said the young surfer was in John Hunter Hospital and faced a “long road to recovery”.

“He saw the shark approaching and was able to fend it off, but suffered an amputated right leg in the process,” the page reads.

‘He clung to life and was able to ride a wave back to shore.

“Please do your best to support this family in Kai’s recovery and rehabilitation.”

Mrs Mac said the prospect of losing his leg was a huge blow for the young surfer who had just returned to the water after breaking his neck.

“His mother and father told me it would be a long road to recovery no matter what the outcome,” she said.

Since the page was set up on Wednesday morning, more than $70,000 has been raised for Mr McKenzie.

McKenzie was attacked by a shark on Tuesday at Port Macquarie’s North Shore beach

It is believed Mr McKenzie (pictured) arrived at the remote beach with a friend after taking a ferry

Members of the surfing community have also wished him a speedy recovery, including his sponsor Rage

The off-duty police officer used his dog’s leash as a tourniquet to stop the bleeding from the injured areas after the young surfer was attacked by the shark (stock image)

According to his aunt Michelle McKenzie, the young man was “an incredible surfer, skater, musician, videographer and an all-around legend.”

“He always enjoyed life to the fullest and made the most of every moment,” she wrote in a Facebook post on Wednesday afternoon.

‘Yesterday he was attacked by a shark in Port Macquarie. While doing what he loves most, he suffered life-changing injuries.’

The experienced surfer, who had multiple sponsors, had only recently returned to the water after suffering a serious injury.

“So happy to be surfing again after breaking my neck,” he posted on Instagram in January.

Members of the surfing community also wished him a speedy recovery, including his sponsor Rage who shared a touching message on Instagram.

“Love to Kai, the youngest RAGE kid on the team and the toughest person we know,” it read.

‘Yesterday he was attacked by a shark and lost his leg while surfing in Port Macquarie.

‘He has been through a lot, broke his back (cervical vertebra) last year. He has never complained, has always started doing what he likes as soon as possible. He is an inspiring person.

“The whole rage gang loves you, man, and we’ll see you soon.”