Shark winks at surfer before biting off his leg

Australian surfer and firefighter Mel Ismail, who lost his right leg below the knee due to a shark attack, shared the shocking details of the incident. According to him, before biting off the limb, the predator seemed to wink at him.

The incident took place off the coast of Western Australia, the state’s Primary Industries and Regional Development Authority (DPIRD) reported in mid-September. The surfer was hospitalized with serious injuries.

In an interview with ABC, Ismail told how events developed: at first he thought that a dolphin had hit him, but then something grabbed him and dragged him to the depths - then the man realized that it was a shark. “I saw her eye, a big black eye. I knew she was holding my leg, and I tried to point my finger in the eye. Personally, I believe she winked at me and then bit off her leg, Ismail said.

Before the attack, the man noticed a flock of dolphins nearby. Despite the injuries, he was able to catch a wave and swim about 20 meters closer to the shore. There he signaled for help to a man on the beach. Once on land, Ismail received first aid, he was called an ambulance.

The investigation of the incident is not yet completed, the species of the attacking shark remains unknown. The surfer said he would return to the water someday.