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A WA grandfather has detailed the terrifying moment he was attacked by a shark while swimming off the southwest coast on Saturday.
The Dunsborough man was snorkelling with a team of others when he felt a two-metre shark bite into his leg.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Grandfather details terrifying shark attack.
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Richard Stubbs, 77, was swimming 50m offshore with his team the Salty Sea Fossils at Yallingup Lagoon, when a wobbegong shark launched at him from the seaweed below.
“All of a sudden something hit me, and hit my leg hard, and I thought, ‘What is that?’” he told 7NEWS.
“I was very frightened.
“I really didn’t know what to do. It was very instantaneous.”
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Stubbs punched the shark, and managed to swim to shore with the assistance of his teammates, who he expressed his gratitude to through tears.
“Just thinking about it, the whole thing, the whole occasion that arose, I’m just lucky to have that support and the people around me,” he said. “I love them.”
Richard Stubbs, 77, welled up as he recalled the moment he was helped to shore after a shark attack 50m offshore. Credit: 7NEWSStubbs sustained a leg injury before he punched the shark to escape. Credit: 7NEWSHis swim team, the Salty Sea Fossils, helped get Stubbs to safety after the attack. Credit: 7NEWS
Wobbegongs are not considered deadly, and often lie on sandy or rocky reef bottoms in shallow coastal waters up to depths of 100m, according to the Australian Museum.
A shark alert was put in place in the area after the attack, which would be followed by another just two days later.
A great white shark hospitalised a 20-year-old surfer 40km south, off the coast at Gnarabup Beach on Monday.
The man sustained a leg wound when the shark bit down on him while he was in the water at a popular break called Boat Ramp, 100m offshore.
Footage of the terrifying moment was captured by a Swellnet camera overlooking the break.
The moment a surfer was attacked by a shark has been caught on camera. Credit: Swellnet
Local surfers online say the man was forced to punch the shark, tourniquet his own leg, and then swim back to shore.
The man was initially transported to Margaret River Hospital in a private vehicle before being transferred to Bunbury via ambulance.
Shire of Augusta Margaret River has closed all beaches from Gas Bay to Margaret River Mouth Beach until further notice.
A shark advice alert was issued when a whale carcass was spotted three days ago about 60km away at Cape Naturaliste.
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