A fisherman attacked by a three-metre shark has described the frightening moment he was mauled while diving.
Brett Highlands was attacked by the tiger shark while spearfishing with friends off Quandong Beach near Broome, Western Australia on Friday morning.
The 48-year-old, who was bitten twice on the arm, managed to escape after hitting the shark with his spear.
“It was the chomping effect that I really felt,” he told 7 News.
“Like a dog trying to get a grip of a bone. Just a wild animal attached to my arm.”
After defending himself with his spear, Mr Highlands swam backstroke with just one arm back to the boat.
(Image: 7 News)
“I just backstroked and I kept looking under the water to see if it was coming at me,” he said.
His friends used a diving belt as a tourniquet while the boat raced Mr Highlands back to Cable Beach, where he was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital.
The fisherman suffered bites to his forearm and hand in the attack.
Mr Highlands is now recovering at home, with his right arm bandaged up and in a sling.
It was the second shark attack in Australia last week.
(Image: 7 News)
(Image: 7 News)
Mark Sanguinetti was fatally attacked by the 4.5 metre shark on Tuesday while surfing with friends off Tuncurry Beach near Forster on the NSW Mid North Coast.
The 59-year-old, from Sydney, desperately tried to warn others about the shark before he was bitten on his right upper thigh.
After the fatal attack, three friends dragged Mr Sanguinetti to shore and, with the help of bystanders – which included an off-duty paramedic – they began CPR.
The dad reportedly went into cardiac arrest due to significant blood loss and was pronounced dead at the scene.
(Image: Getty Images)
“Dad was a truly special soul,” his daughters Bella and Jemima said in a heartbreaking tribute.
“A kind, generous, thoughtful man, friend, and father.
“He saw the light within everyone and every situation.”