Surfer ‘Punches Shark in the Nose’ During Attack

A shark warning sign is seen posted on the beach in the northern New South Wales city of Newcastle on Jan. 17, 2015. Peter Parks/AFP/Getty Images

A novice surfer in Australia fended off a shark by punching it in the face as it attacked him, but not before it bit him in the shoulder.

British doctor Charlie Fry was surfing off the north coast of Sydney with a friend on Monday when he felt something bang into his shoulder. Turning around, he saw a shark that was about 1.8 metres (6 feet) coming at him with its teeth bared.