Surfer fends off Australia shark attack with face punch

Last updated: November 14, 2017 at 11:20 am

A British doctor surfing off the Australian coast has escaped serious injuries by punching an attacking shark in the nose.

Charlie Fry was left with superficial puncture wounds on his right shoulder and upper arm when he was caught off Avoca Beach, 60 miles (96km) north of Sydney.

Earlier today Fry said he had recently watched a YouTube video in which Australian professional surfer Mick Fanning described his famous escape from a great white shark during a surfing competition in 2015.

"So when it happened, I was like: 'Just do what Mick did. Just punch it in the nose,'" Fry told Nine Network television.

"So Mick, if you're watching or listening, I owe you a beer. Thank you very much."

Fanning was competing at the J-Bay Open in South Africa two years ago when he was knocked off his board by a shark yet escaped unscathed.

The video of the attack and Fanning speaking about it has been viewed more than 24 million times on YouTube.