Surfer Kai McKenzie recovers in hospital after shark severed his leg

The severed leg of a surfer mauled by a shark at a popular beach has washed ashore after the horror attack.

The leg of a surfer mauled by a shark at a popular beach in northern NSW has washed ashore, giving the sponsored athlete a chance at having it reattached.

Emergency services were called to North Shore Beach in Port Macquarie after Kai McKenzie, 23, was attacked in the water.

NSW Ambulance Service Hastings South duty manager Kirran Mowbray said Mr McKenzie was out surfing by himself at the time of the shark attack.

Surfer Kai McKenzie was rushed to hospital after he was attacked by a shark while in the water on Tuesday. Picture: Instagram

“He saw the shark approach him and he was able to fight it off,” she said.

“It was pretty courageous and he was able to then turn around and able to catch a wave into shore.”

Ms Mowbray said a retired police officer was thankfully on the beach at the time, walking his dog, and rushed to help Mr McKenzie.

She said he used his dog’s lead to make a temporary tourniquet that “essentially saved Mr McKenzie’s life” until emergency services arrived at the scene.

His surfboard was broken in half after the attack. Picture: NSW Police

“(Paramedics) got there pretty fast … and they were quick to act and applied their own tourniquet,” Ms Mowbray said.

“The young man was very stable thanks to the bystander who applied the tourniquet.”

Paramedics then rushed Mr McKenzie to Port Macquarie Hospital before he was taken to John Hunter Hospital.

It’s understood he remains in a critical but stable condition.

The attack happened at North Shore Beach on Tuesday.

Mr McKenzie’s severed right leg washed up on shore a short time later, NSW Police say.

It’s understood the limb was put on ice and will be transferred to John Hunter Hospital in the hopes surgeons can save it.

A family friend, Lauren Mac, has since started a GoFundMe campaign to help with Mr McKenzie’s medical bills.

“Kai is currently in John Hunter Hospital awaiting surgery which is just the first step to what will be a long road to recovery,” she shared.

“Please dig deep for this family to assist with Kai’s recovery and rehabilitation.

“The McKenzie’s (sic) are a local family with hearts of gold that would never expect or ask anything of anybody, so let’s give back and show them that they have the communities (sic) support in this.”

The attack comes months after Mr McKenzie returned to the water after recovering from a significant neck injury.

“So happy to be back surfing after having a fractured neck,” the surfer posted on Instagram in January.