Sligo resident escapes shark attack

A 42-year-old man, who lives in Sligo, has been describing his lucky escape from the clutches of a shark in New Zealand during a visit to his native country.

Peter Garrett, who is originally from New Zealand, spotted the shark after feeling a bump to his surfboard and then a sharp pain in his leg while swimming off the North Island.

The father of two said he shouted obscenities at the shark and kicked it with his flipper before heading for shore and escaping with just 10 teeth wounds to his leg.

Peter said it was a terrifying experience.

"I felt a bump under my surfboard - I thought I just hit a rock," he said.

"Next thing I felt a sharp pain to my leg and looked down and there was a shark on my leg.

"I sort of yelled some obscenities to it - like 'F off' - and shook it off.

"But it sort of came back again; I jumped off my surfboard...and kind of tried to hit it with my flippers and stuff and then it sort of disappeared."