A 51-year-old surfer survived a close encounter yesterday with a large shark off the NSW North Coast. The shark became tangled in his leg rope and dragged him along like a ''powerful jet ski''.
Surf shop operator John Morgan said he was about 300m offshore at the northern NSW tourist town of Byron Bay when he suddenly found himself being dragged out to sea.
''I had just come off a wave when I saw a large swirl of water,'' MrMorgan told The Northern Star newspaper.
''I was then suddenly hauled backwards ... like I was riding behind a powerful jet ski.''
Mr Morgan said he lay down on his longboard, off Clarkes Beach, as the shark, which he estimated was about 3m-long, dragged him 50m or so.
He said he was ''freaked'' but waited for the shark to free itself and just hoped it wouldn't return.
''The water was dirty so I couldn't make out what type of shark it was, but I knew from the splashing white water that it was roughly eight to 10 foot [2.4m-3m],'' he said.
''I think the shark was as scared as I was.
''It totally freaked me out. I'm just glad it didn't turn around and bite me.'' AAP