Shark attacks teen fisherman in knee-deep water

A teenager's leg was amputated after a shark attacked him as he stood fishing in shallow water.

Sixteen-year-old Adrian Sheik kicked and punched at the fish as it attacked during the night-time fishing expedition with friends.

It happened on the sand banks of the Royal Natal Yacht Club in South Africa's Durban Harbour.

Adrian believes the shark was a Zambezi.

He finally escaped by stabbing at the shark with his fishing rod, and was rushed to Addington Hospital where his leg was amputated.

The attack is the second in KwaZulu-Natal waters in less than a week, and the Natal Sharks Board is warning beachgoers to stay out of the water at night.

Adrian's best friend, Kevin Moonsamy says the actual attack was quick, but helping his friend swim back to land took about half an hour.

When they approached the shore, another fisherman, Jack Potgieter, came to the boys' assistance.

"I heard screaming and turned to see what was happening," Mr Potgieter said.

He quickly put a towel around Sheik's leg and helped drag him to the shore.

"We believe it to be quite a large shark," said Sharks Board biologist Sheldon Dudley.