Surfer gets leg ripped off by great white shark just before it washed ashore

A surfer has spoken out after his leg ripped off by a great white shark before it was washed ashore.

Last Tuesday (23 July), Kai McKenzie was surfing near Port Macquarie in New South Wales, Australia when he was attacked by a 3m (9.8ft) great white shark.

The 23-year-old luckily managed to catch a wave into shore, where he was helped by a retired police officer who'd been walking his dog on the beach at the time of the attack.

The former police officer was able to produce a makeshift tourniquet with the dog's leash to stem the bleeding.

According to NSW Ambulance Service Hastings South acting duty manager, Kirran Mowbray, his quick thinking 'essentially saved Kai’s life until the paramedics got there’.

Talking about Kai, he added: "He was quite calm and able to talk to us - he was completely with it. He’s just a really brave and courageous young man.”

However, Kai's right leg was nowhere to be seen - that was until it washed up a short time later and put on ice by locals.

Kai Mackenzie was attacked by the shark while out surfing (7News)

A GoFundMe said that Kai was in a 'stable condition' and had received surgery.

After his horrifying ordeal, he recently took to Instagram to talk about his 'crazy' experience.

"Man ohh f**king man to be here right now just to f****** be able to hold my beautiful Eve and my family is everything to me," he wrote on social media.

"A few days ago I went through a crazy shark attack, biggest shark I’ve ever seen, which was a very crazy scene and scared the living f*** out of me."

Kai also thanked everyone who had donated towards his recovery, as he continued to say: “But to all you f****** kind-hearted people, all you legends, to anyone and everyone all your support has meant the absolute world to me.

“It’s so cool to see so many beautiful people support me.

"We are so very grateful for everything."

And despite his injuries, Kai has vowed to return to the water.

"I can tell you now if you know my personality this means f*** all," he added on Instagram.

"I’ll be back in that water in no time, big f*** off to that shark and big thanks to Steve for saving my life."

He also shared a picture of himself, writing: "Spot something missing?"