Australian surfer Kai McKenzie’s leg washed ashore after shark attack

The severed leg of a surfer who was attacked by a shark has washed up on an Australian beach. Doctors are now working hard to sew the leg back on.

Kai McKenzie, 23, was surfing near Port Macquarie in New South Wales (NSW) on Tuesday when he was bitten by a 3m long great white shark.

According to authorities, he managed to ride a wave to shore, where an off-duty police officer stopped the bleeding with a makeshift tourniquet.

His leg was washed ashore a short time later and was put on ice by locals before being taken to hospital, where a team of doctors is now examining the possibility of surgery.

The condition of Mr McKenzie, an amateur professional surfer, remains serious but stable, according to emergency services, who thanked the off-duty officer for his quick response to the incident.

“He used his dog’s leash as a tourniquet … and basically saved his life until paramedics arrived,” said Kirran Mowbray of NSW Ambulance.

She described Mr McKenzie as “calm” and “talkative” after the attack. “He’s just a really brave and courageous young man,” she added.

Shortly after the incident, Mr McKenzie was taken to a local hospital and then flown to the John Hunter Hospital – a major trauma centre – in Newcastle, about 200 kilometres away. His severed leg had also made the long journey.

According to local media reports, the avid surfer had only recently returned to the water after suffering a serious neck injury that forced him to take a break from sport.

To help McKenzie’s family with the costs of his medical treatment and rehabilitation, a GoFundMe page was set up and had raised over 75,000 Australian dollars (US$49,000; £38,000) as of Wednesday.

Although Australia has more shark attacks than any other country (except the United States), fatal attacks are relatively rare.