John Campion had surfed the West Coast waters for years, but yesterday he was lucky to make it out alive after being attacked by a large shark believed to be a bronze whaler.
Mr Campion, 47, was mauled while surfing with his daughter and friends near Streaky Bay, on the SA West Coast, about 2.40pm.
He suffered injuries to his upper body and right arm but they are not life-threatening.
Mr Campion, of Sceale Bay, 30km south of Streaky Bay, had to be dragged from the water and carried about 600m along Back Beach to reach an ambulance, before being flown to Adelaide
Local Jeff Schmucker was shooting photos of Mr Campion and about 15 others when the attack occurred.
"I was shooting three surfers in the water ... and every time a set came in I'd snap a couple of photos, but then those guys just disappeared," he said.
"They all went in at once, so that was a little strange."
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