Dad Brutally Mauled by Shark in Australia

A father and firefighter is lucky to be alive after a horrifying shark attack ripped off his foot at a popular Australian beach.

Mel Ismail, 56, was surfing at Glenfield Beach in Geraldton, Australia, when a shark suddenly attacked, leaving him with a devastating injury.

As Ismail struggled in the water, another surfer spotted him in distress and swam out to help, bringing the badly injured father back to shore.

That’s when a group of quick-thinking teenagers jumped into action.

The teens reportedly used a rope from a surfboard to create a makeshift tourniquet around Ismail’s leg, helping stop the massive blood loss until emergency crews could take over.

Their actions may have saved his life.

Ismail was rushed to the hospital, where Australian broadcaster ABC reported he remained in serious but stable condition.

Authorities are now trying to determine exactly what kind of shark was responsible. Ismail’s damaged surfboard is being examined and tested for clues that could identify the species.

Officials quickly shut down a large section of Glenfield Beach following the terrifying attack and warned swimmers and surfers to stay out of the water.

“To ensure community safety, all recreational water users are advised to avoid the area as the shark may still be in the vicinity,” the City of Greater Geraldton said.

Shadow Fisheries Minister Kirrilee Warr, who represents the area in Parliament, said Ismail is well known in the local surfing community.

“I do understand the victim is a well-known surfer amongst the community,” Warr said.

The brutal attack has renewed concerns about shark encounters along Australia’s coastline.

Scientists have warned that warming ocean temperatures and increasingly crowded coastal waters may be changing shark migration patterns, potentially bringing the predators into more frequent contact with swimmers and surfers.

For Ismail, however, the outcome could have been even worse if not for the strangers — including a group of teenagers — who rushed to his aid when every second counted.