Donations are pouring in to support the medical expenses of an Australian surfer after a shark attack left him severely injured.
Kai McKenzie, 23, was surfing near Port Macquarie in New South Wales (NSW) on Tuesday when a 3-meter (9.8-foot) great white shark bit him. Despite his severe injury, McKenzie managed to catch a wave back to shore, where an off-duty police officer quickly applied a makeshift tourniquet to stop the bleeding, according to authorities.
According to the BBC, a short time later, McKenzie’s severed leg washed up on the beach and was preserved on ice by locals before being transported to the hospital. Medical professionals are currently assessing the possibility of reattaching the limb.
Emergency services have confirmed that McKenzie, a sponsored surfer, is in serious but stable condition. They praised the quick actions of the off-duty officer, who used his dog’s leash as a tourniquet, effectively saving McKenzie’s life until paramedics arrived.
“He used the lead off his dog as a tourniquet and essentially saved his life until the paramedics got there,” said NSW Ambulance’s Kirran Mowbray. She described McKenzie as “calm” and “able to talk” following the attack. “He’s just a really brave and courageous young man,” she added.
After initial treatment at a local hospital, McKenzie was flown to the John Hunter Hospital, a major trauma center in Newcastle, approximately 200 kilometers (124 miles) away. His severed leg also made the journey.
McKenzie had only recently returned to surfing after recovering from a significant neck injury that had forced him to take a break from the sport, local media reported.
A GoFundMe page set up to assist McKenzie’s family with his medical and rehabilitation costs has already raised over A$75,000 ($49,000; £38,000) as of Wednesday, July 24
Although Australia has a higher number of shark attacks than any other country except the US, fatal attacks remain relatively rare.
