Surfer, 25, has leg bitten and finger bitten off by shark while sitting on board
A surfer has had his leg bitten off in a vicious shark attack in Hawaii.
Collin Cook, 25, who lives on the island of Oahu, was surfing near a popular surfing spot on Friday when the attack happened.
Friends and family of Mr Cook said the shark also took some of his fingers.
KHON reported that Mr Cook was sitting on his surfboard awaiting the next wave, when a school of fish ju
mped out of the water.
The surfer was attacked by the shark from underneath, biting off his leg below the kneecap.
He managed to punch the shark several times before it swam away.
Chris Webster, Mr Cook's cousin, told KHON: 'He swam on his own free will to another surfer who threw him onto his board and paddled him straight to shore.'
Once on dry land, a tourniquet was tied around what was left of Mr Cook's left leg, before paramedics arrived and took him to hospital.
Witness Drew Zarba said the surfer spoke as he lay injured on the beach.
'(Cook) said three things: How is my leg? I'm thirsty, and where is the ambulance?' he said.
Mr Webster added: 'During the attack, the shark got him below the knee and it took off below the knee cap, but they had to take his leg above the knee so that was a little heartbreaking.'
Collin Cook, 25, who lives on the island of Oahu, was surfing near a popular surfing spot on Friday when the attack happened.
Friends and family of Mr Cook said the shark also took some of his fingers.
KHON reported that Mr Cook was sitting on his surfboard awaiting the next wave, when a school of fish ju
mped out of the water.
The surfer was attacked by the shark from underneath, biting off his leg below the kneecap.
He managed to punch the shark several times before it swam away.
Chris Webster, Mr Cook's cousin, told KHON: 'He swam on his own free will to another surfer who threw him onto his board and paddled him straight to shore.'
Once on dry land, a tourniquet was tied around what was left of Mr Cook's left leg, before paramedics arrived and took him to hospital.
Witness Drew Zarba said the surfer spoke as he lay injured on the beach.
'(Cook) said three things: How is my leg? I'm thirsty, and where is the ambulance?' he said.
Mr Webster added: 'During the attack, the shark got him below the knee and it took off below the knee cap, but they had to take his leg above the knee so that was a little heartbreaking.'
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