Teenager thanks best mate for saving his life after scary shark attack

A teenager who was attacked by a massive shark has spoken out about the ordeal, claiming his friend is a hero.

A teenager has thanked his best mate for saving his life after he was attacked by a massive great white shark in Western Australia’s south.

Luke Pascoe was attacked in waters off Mistaken Island, near Goode Beach in the City of Albany on, while diving on Monday.

“A spearfisherman received injuries after being bitten by a suspected white shark,” the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development said in a statement on Tuesday.

The 17-year-old boy told the ABC he owed his life to his best friend Conner Shirley.

“Conner was the one that helped me up onto the rock and he piggybacked me 2km along the rocks back to the car and drove me to hospital,” Luke said.

“I owe my life to him. I was lying in bed last night and I was thinking to myself how lucky I am to still be here.”

attack

Luke said the shark, which he believed was 5m long, took a chunk out his legs.

“I look down and there’s just this 5m great white cruising in front of me, it took one turn, had a look at me, took another turn, and on that last turn it just came straight for me and bit me on the legs,” he told 9News.

“When it happened, you kind of go into shock, you don’t really realise you’ve been bitten by a shark.

“So I gritted my teeth and kicked as hard as I could with both legs just trying to get back to shore or at least to a point where I felt the shark couldn’t get me anymore.”

Conner was in shock when he saw the the frightening sight for the first time.

“At first I thought I was dreaming. It was huge, the size of a small four-wheel drive,” he told 9News.

But Conner quickly composed himself and made a makeshift tourniquet made from his dive belt to stop Luke from bleeding.

“First aid at school actually taught me a couple of things,” he told the ABC.

shark attack

Luke said he would focus on rehabilitation but was keen to get back into the water soon.

He suffered three lacerations to his lower legs after he was bit the fierce predator, but said he did not blame the shark for the attack.

“It's more my fault than the shark’s fault,” he told the ABC.

The public have been warned to take additional caution in the area and report any shark sightings.

The department is continuing to investigate the incident.