A horror shark attack has left a man's arm hanging off while spearfishing off the West Australian coast.
Emergency services rushed to the scene near Port Hedland following reports a man in his 30s was seriously injured after spearing a fish.
The ambulance crew was called around 11:30 am and he was urgently brought to shore by boat and then transferred by air ambulance to Hedland health campus as a priority-one patient.
The Royal Flying Doctor Service, who responded to the incident, said the man has suffered multiple serious injuries and his left arm was "almost severed" at the shoulder.
The man was expected to arrive in Perth for treatment on Friday evening.
The WA Country Health Service said the man was in stable condition but was unable to provide further information about his injuries.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is investigating the shark bite incident and has urged everyone in the Port Hedland area to take extra caution.
It has said to adhere to beach closures advised by Local Government Rangers, Parks and Wildlife Service officers and if you see a shark, report it to Water Police.
Shark bites in Australia are relatively rare, with an average of 12.5 incidents occurring a year over the past decade. Fatalities have decreased since the 1990s.
A 35-year-old British man who was due to get married was killed earlier this year in the first fatal shark attack near Sydney for almost 60 years.
Simon Nellist was attacked by a 13ft-long great white shark as he trained for an ocean charity swim on a sheltered family beach that is usually popular with families.
The horrifying attack in Port Hedland comes a week after a 39-year-old woman was mauled to death by a shark at Plettenberg Bay in South Africa.
Kimon Bisogno was alone in the water, but her husband, Diego Milesi and five-year-old daughter were watching her from the shore.
Tragically there were no lifeguards on duty and her remains were later found 50 yards from the shore by a rescue team.
One friend, Claire Commins wrote on Facebook : "The world truly has lost a bright shining light and pure soul and who left happiness, laughter, glitter and kindness where ever you went. So genuine and with so much love in your heart.
"My condolences to Diego and the rest of your unbelievable family and friends who absolutely adored you! What a gigantic void you have left in everyone’s heart."
