A man jumped from his surfboard after a shark attacked his wife, and the animal repeatedly struck until it was released, Australian media reported.
Chantelle Doyle, 35, was surfing from Shelly Beach in Port Macquarie, New South Wales, when the attack took place.
Her husband attacked the shark until it released its grip and then helped Mrs. Doyle to the igge.
She was taken to the hospital with sick injuries to her right leg.
Experts quoted by the Port Macquarie News believe that Mrs. Doyle was up to 3 m (10ft) in length by a juvenile great white shark.
Surf Life Saving NSW CEO Steven Pearce praised the man – named by media as Mark Rapley – for his swift action.
“This fella paddled over and jumped from his board to the shark and hit it to get it to release her and then helped her back to the beach,” he said, quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald. “Pretty full on, really heroic.”
Inspector Andrew Beverley, of Ambulance NSW, said people on the beach gave first aid to Mrs Doyle before medics arrived.
“The bystanders on the scene who provided assistance had to be praised. They did a great job,” he said.
He added that it was the third serious shark attack on that coastal region in recent months.
Ms Doyle was flown to Newcastle Hospital after surgery and was in a stable condition.
