Miracle escape for boy bitten by shark

A boy was taking a surfing lesson when he felt something wriggle on his foot – it was a one-metre long shark that then latched onto his leg.

A boy is recovering at home after he was bitten by a shark during a surfing lesson.

James Sweetman, 12, was staying at a friend’s house on Sunday when the pair headed to Cape Burney Beach, south of Geraldton in Western Australia, to take their lesson.

James felt a wriggle on his feet when he unknowingly stepped on a one metre long shark that was lurking underneath.

James Sweetman, 12, was taking a surfing lesson at a popular WA beach when he was bitten by a shark.

His father Ray Sweetman, who described his son as an “absolute soldier” said he tried to swim off “and it didn’t let go”,

The young boy was able to swim to shore but got bitten in his inner right thigh.

His friend’s parents rushed him to Geraldton Health Campus where he was later discharged.

James miraculously didn’t need any stitches or have to undergo surgery – and according to his dad, he left the hospital smiling and joking around.

He miraculously didn’t need any stitches.

“I don’t think he panicked too much, he handled it really well down on the beach. When we got to the hospital I could see he was in shock,” Mr Sweetman told Perth Now.

“Emergency was great, the ladies at the hospital dressed him up really well.”

The beach was closed to the public for the remainder of the afternoon and was reopened on Monday with swimmers advised by Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) to take caution.

A DPIRD spokesperson told Perth Now it was working to confirm the species of shark involved in the incident.