British man loses leg and fights for life after South Africa shark attack

A British man has lost one leg and part of another and is fighting for his life after he was attacked by a shark while swimming in South Africa.

The 42-year-old was attacked by a great white at Fish Hoek beach in Cape Town.

He was rescued by a bystander after he reportedly ignored shark warnings to go into the water.

The victim is reported to be part-time accountant Michael Cohen.

National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) spokesman Craig Lambinon told the South African Press Association (Sapa): “It appears he was rescued from the water by a bystander who left the scene before we could identify him.

“On arrival, a 42-year-old man was found on the shore suffering complete amputation of his right leg, above the knee, and partial amputation of his left leg, below the knee.”

Mr Lambinon said the victim was believed to live in the Cape Town suburb of Plumstead.

He was stabilised at the scene and then airlifted to Constantiaberg Medi-Clinic in a critical condition.

Mr Lambinon said: “The man was conscious when paramedics attended to him on the beach, but was sedated on-scene by paramedics in their efforts to stabilise the patient.”

The city of Cape Town told Sapa that, when the man entered the water, the beach was still closed. A shark flag, indicating the presence of a great white, was flying.

A shark spotter stationed on the beach was warned by a fellow spotter on the mountain that someone had entered the water.

The spotter then ran to Clovelly Corner to try to get the swimmer out of the water, but the attack took place before he could reach him.

Spotters had sighted the shark 90 minutes before the attack, and closed the beach. The white shark flag was raised and the siren set off.

Mr Cohen was the only person in the water at the time.