INJURED -- 21 July 2007 -- Cocos Islands -- snorkeller attacked

Angus Chapman, 15, was attacked by a bronze whaler shark while swimming off the Cocos Islands on Saturday 21 July 2007. He was biiten on the leg three times and suffered severe lacerations and tendon and muscle damage.

He punched the shark on the snout and it swam away.

Angus said he had just finished snorkeling when the shark attacked. He said he was glad his six-year-old brother, who was swimming next to him, was not harmed during the attack.

"If I didn't punch it, then I would have lost my leg and if it got my brother then he probably would have died, which is a lot worse,'' he told media.

Surgeon Tim Cooper said Angus’s quick thinking helped save his life.

"He told someone to put a tourniquet on his limb, which is the correct thing to do if you've got major vessel injury and I believe if a shark won't let go, you've got to punch it in the face," he said.

No other details were reported.

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