Aussie man punches shark, surfs to safety

Michael Bedford had surgery after Sunday's attack, and his condition was described as stable.

By Agence France-PresseMon, Jun 07 2010 at 12:48 AM EST

JAWS: Michael Bedford was knocked off his board by the shark, believed to be a great white, which then came back for a second charge. (Photo: ZUMA Press)

An Australian surfer fought off a large shark and then rode a wave to safety, reports said Monday.

Michael Bedford was knocked off his board by the shark, believed to be a great white of "Jaws" fame, which then came back for a second charge, witnesses were quoted as saying.

But he punched the animal and then caught a passing wave to the shore, where friends used the board's rope as a tourniquet for bite wounds on his leg.

"He gave it a good whack he reckons, a good punch and that doesn't surprise me knowing Mick," said witness Lee Cummuskey, according to public broadcaster ABC.

"It is your worst nightmare and Mick's been through it and survived so he's just really lucky."

Bedford had surgery after Sunday's attack near Albany, south of Perth, and his condition was described as stable.

Australia reports several shark attacks each year, with 194 people killed over the past two centuries, records show.