Surfer's leg torn off in Australia shark attack

A surfer is fighting for his life after a shark attack tore his right leg off above the knee in Australia.

Ben Gerring, 29, was attacked by a great white shark at around 4pm on Tuesday at Gearies Beach in Western Australia.

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He is being treated at the Royal Perth Hospital and is in a critical condition.

Witnesses reports that Mr Gerrinf was waiting to catch a wave with around 15 others in the water nearby when the shark attacked from behind.

According to WA Today, fellow surfer Ian Barker said: "I paddled out to them, they needed a hand and that's when I saw this fellow, he was very pale, they had him propped up on a surfboard paddling in, there was about 100m to go so we got him all the way ashore and then applied CPR."

Mandurah Mail reporter Nathan Hondros was at the scene, having headed to the area originally to report on a new shark app.

According to ABC News, he said: "Ambulance crews were trying to resuscitate him by the looks of it.

"[The] RAC rescue chopper came in. So it was just quite desperate and heart wrenching scenes."

Mr Gerring's mother was reportedly in the ambulance with her son as he was taken to hospital.

WA Fisheries have caught a shark between three and four metres in size near the site of the attack, reports Perth Now.

However, some have condemned the culling of the shark, calling the decision "deeply disappointing" and will not improve safety in the water.

The source told WA Today: "Even if, by some fluke, the same shark was killed, it achieves nothing for safety in the water because a shark that has bitten someone once does not suddenly become inclined to bite another person - that concept is pure fiction."