A seasoned ambulance worker has choked back tears after gallantly battling to save the life of a young surfer who was mauled and left bleeding to death by a shark.
Four crews of paramedics desperately tried to save the man in his 20s after he was attacked off Emerald Beach in Coffs Harbour, NSW, at about 10.45am on Sunday.
The man had his arm bitten off shark, believed to be a great white, and suffered large lacerations to his back.
NSW Ambulance Inspector Chris Wilson looked visibly emotional as he relayed the young surfer's injuries from the horror attack to reporters.
NSW Ambulance Inspector Chris Wilson looked visibly emotional as he relayed the young surfer's injuries sustained in a horror shark attack in Coffs Harbour on Sunday
'A male in his approximate late 20s, sustained significant injuries to his upper body, which has resulted in major bl — I can't even say that,' the paramedic stuttered.
'It was a devastating for everybody on the beach this morning.
'A number of local surfers and bystanders came to the aid of this man, they were incredibly brave in a very challenging situation.'
Brave locals performed CPR on the man before first responders arrived as one bystander signalled for others to return to shore.
'I saw a lady run down... everyone was yelling get out of the water,' one witness told 9News.
A helicopter lowered an emergency doctor onto the beach as paramedics tried desperately to revive the surfer in a makeshift ICU unit on the sand.
Despite their gallant efforts, the young man sadly succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
'I saw a lady run down... everyone was yelling get out of the water,' one witness said of the gruesome scenes witnessed at the shore
The man was mauled to death and he reportedly lost an arm during the attack (pictured, emergency services on Emerald Beach)
A surfer who said he witnessed the attack described hearing harrowing screams and said he soon saw a man without an arm losing copious amounts of blood.
'He was shouting 'help me' — people were trying to get him out to the shore,' he told the Courier Mail.
'I saw paramedics performing CPR on him for about an hour and a half trying to save them.'
The keen surfer said he felt spooked by the gruesome scenes and said he didn't plan on returning to the popular beach for some time.
'The Westpac Rescue Helicopter winched in a critical care medical team onto the beach to continue treatment,' Inspector Wilson said.
'The patient suffered a critical injury to his arm, but despite the best efforts of bystanders, paramedics and other emergency services, the patient couldn't be revived.'
Emerald Beach will remain closed for 48 hours as police patrol the water.
A helicopter lowered an emergency doctor onto the beach as paramedics tried desperately to revive the young surfer in a makeshift ICU unit on the sand (pictured, Emerald Beach)
