Surfer survives shark attack in Australia: managed to get to the hospital himself.

According to The Sun: The surfer endured a brutal shark attack and, despite serious injuries, managed to get to the hospital on his own.

This incident occurred at a popular surfing spot in Australia on Tuesday when a shark chased a seal, and the surfer found himself in its path.

The shark, a bronze whaler, pursued its prey when the seal used the surfer as a maneuver to escape.

The 50-year-old man was surfing in the D’Estrees bays on Kangaroo Island in South Australia when the shark latched onto his leg.

The attack occurred around 1:00 PM in an area known as 'The Channel'.

The unidentified victim suffered severe injuries but managed to make it to the shore and get to a hospital.

Reports say the man underwent surgery on his leg. Although the injuries are serious, they are not considered life-threatening.

The extent of the damage to his leg is not yet known.

According to Shark Watch Australia, this attack was the result of mistaken identity.

“The bronze whaler was chasing a seal around the bay when the seal used the surfer as a decoy,” a representative noted.

“The victim was bitten by the sharks twice.”

While bronze whalers are not as well-known as great white sharks, they can also attack humans.

The international shark attack file records 15 attacks by bronze whalers since 1962, one of which was fatal.

“These sharks are considered potentially dangerous to humans.”

Bronze whalers can weigh up to 300 kg and reach lengths of 3.3 meters.

This incident comes amid other recent shark attacks in South Australia.

In the last two years, the state has recorded four fatal shark attacks, along with several non-fatal incidents.

One of the tragedies involved 28-year-old surfer Lance Appleby, who died from a great white shark attack at Granite Beach on Eyre Peninsula earlier this year.

His body was never found.

He disappeared when he was 28 years old, and the search for his body was called off after his torn surfboard was found.

Jeff Schumacher, a family friend of the victim, witnessed the tragedy unfold and recounted the surfer's last moments.

He commented to 7NEWS: “He caught a wave, rode it out and started paddling back when he was attacked.”

Schumacher added that he saw a broken board return to shore and a cut rope.

“There was a bite on the board, and the rope was cut in half,” he noted.

“It shocked everyone, especially the locals.”

Appleby returned to Eyre Peninsula on Christmas to spend time with family, local residents recalled.