An up-and-coming surfer was attacked by a great white shark on Tuesday in the waters off New South Wales, Australia. Kai McKenzie, 23, was surfing North Shore Beach in Port Macquarie when an estimated 15-foot shark latched onto his leg.
McKenzie put up a fight against the shark, but reports say he lost his leg. Still, he was able to catch a wave to shore, where a retired police officer found him, and then he was airlifted to the hospital. Currently, his condition is reported to be stable but serious.
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“He saw the shark,” Kirran Mowbray, a NSW ambulance worker, told 10 News First. “He was able to fight it off. He was very courageous. He turned around and caught a wave into shore. He [the retired police officer] used the leash off his dog as a tourniquet for the young man’s leg. He essentially saved his life. The only person that saw the shark was the young man himself. He was quite calm. He was able to talk with us. He was completely with it.”
McKenzie is a team rider for Rage, the purple-hued surf grip and hardware brand founded by Creed McTaggart, Noa Deane, Beau Foster, Ellis Ericson, and Toby Cregan. He’s a part of the exclusive crew including Shaun Manners, Jaleesa Vincent, Jake Vincent, Wade Goodall, Craig Anderson, Kai Hing, and Holly Wawn.
Rage, in response to the incident, posted their own statement of support:
“Sending love to @kai_mckenzie the youngest RAGE boy on the team and the toughest person that we know,” they wrote. “Yesterday he was attacked by a shark and has lost his leg while surfing in Port Macquarie.He has been through a lot breaking his back last year, he never once complained always just got on with doing what he loved as soon as possible. He is an inspiring person.The whole rage gang loves you man and we will see you soon.”
Recently, McKenzie suffered a fractured neck, and he returned to the water earlier this year. “So happy to be back surfing after having a fractured neck been some real fun times lately,” he wrote.
This is a developing story. In the meantime, here’s to a speedy recovery for this young legend. Support his recovery via this GoFundMe account.
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