Mel Ismail, a 56-year-old Australian surfer, says he was attacked by a shark while surfing alone at Glenfield Beach in Western Australia last month. The attack left him without his right leg below the knee, the source reports.
In an interview with ABC News in Australia, Ismail recalled first thinking he had been struck by a dolphin because he had been watching dolphins nearby. He said something then seized him and pulled him underwater, where he realized it was a shark.
Ismail said he saw the animal’s eye and tried to reach toward it. He described the shark as appearing to wink before biting off his leg, though that characterization was his personal impression.
Another surfer arrived at the beach and went into the water to help Ismail, according to the source. The report says Ismail was rescued and later remained in stable condition, while facing a lengthy recovery. It attributes that assessment to the head of the intensive care unit treating him.
The attack took place weeks before Ismail spoke publicly about it. The account provided does not give an exact date for the incident or identify the shark species.
