A group of quick-thinking teenagers have been praised for taking quick action to save their friend's life after he was attacked by a shark.
Julian McLennan, 16, was surfing with friends when he was bitten by a shark at Old Bar near Taree, on NSW's Mid North Coast, about 4.30pm on Christmas Day.
“I was surfing in the back, going over a wave and I just felt someone grab me,” Julian said 9News.
“When I look to my right, I see a huge fin coming out of the water, something like the body of a shark.”
Julian immediately shouted that he had been bitten to his friend Alex Tobin who was in the water but had been moved closer to shore
“I have no idea if I have a leg anymore and I just look at Alex and it just drives me crazy,” Julian said.
Julian McLennan, 16, was surfing with his mate Alex Tobin when he was bitten by a shark at Old Bar near Taree on NSW's Mid North Coast on Christmas Day
Julian McLennan (pictured left) was lucky to have quick-thinking friends Will Anderson (pictured centre) and Alex Tobin (pictured right) to help him after the shark attack
Alex said he ran to the shore and grabbed his shirt so he could wrap it around the top of his friend's leg to stop the bleeding.
The teen's other friend, Will Anderson, was surfing with them but decided to get out of the water early.
He was in the parking lot when he got the call that Julian had been attacked.
“I didn't believe him at first,” Will said.
“I thought, 'oh yeah,' but no, just the panic in his voice set off alarm bells in my head.”
Will decided to take Julian to hospital rather than wait for an ambulance, saying it 'would have taken too long' for help to arrive.
Gruesome photos of the teen's injury show his leg was pierced by deep shark teeth.
Fortunately, the predator hit just a few inches from Julian's femoral artery.
Those centimeters meant the difference between life and almost certain death.
The 16-year-old said he was lucky his surfboard took the brunt of the bite.
The teen's leg was pierced by deep shark teeth marks, missing his femoral artery by several centimeters
Julian's shocked mother has praised her son's quick-thinking friends for being so proactive in saving her son.
She said they “didn't panic” and labeled them “true friends.”
Julian said he has no plans to get back in the water any time soon.
The NSW Government's Sharksmart webpage has tips for swimmers and surfers on the best way to avoid sharks.
These include staying between flags and being aware that sharks may be present between sandbanks or near steep slopes.