An abalone diver has survived having his head bitten by a white pointer shark that attacked him off the NSW south coast today by poking it in the eyes.
Eric Nerhus, 41, was diving with his 25-year-old son and a group of other divers at Cape Howe, near Eden, when he was attacked by the 3m white pointer about 10.30am (AEDT).
The shark grabbed Mr Nerhus by the head, crushing his face mask inwards and breaking his nose, said friend and fellow diver Dennis Luobikis.
"He was actually bitten by the head down, the shark swallowed his head," Mr Luobikis said.
The shark then took a second bite, clamping its jaws around Mr Nerhus's torso and tearing deep cuts in each side of his body.
Mr Nerhus, a well-known local diver with more than five years' experience, struggled free from the shark's jaws and was pulled back aboard the boat by his son.
Two other divers in a nearby boat gave him first aid and one radioed his father, who was flying overhead in a spotter plane, to call for help.
The Snowy Hydro Rescue Helicopter arrived shortly after 11.10am and took Mr Nerhus, who was suffering from shock and blood loss, to Wollongong Hospital.
He is in a serious but stable condition.
Mr Nerhus told his rescuers he poked the shark in the eye to fight his way free, a Snowy Hydro Rescue Helicopter spokeswoman said.
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Eric Nerhus, 41, was diving with his 25-year-old son and a group of other divers at Cape Howe, near Eden, when he was attacked by the 3m white pointer about 10.30am (AEDT).
The shark grabbed Mr Nerhus by the head, crushing his face mask inwards and breaking his nose, said friend and fellow diver Dennis Luobikis.
"He was actually bitten by the head down, the shark swallowed his head," Mr Luobikis said.
The shark then took a second bite, clamping its jaws around Mr Nerhus's torso and tearing deep cuts in each side of his body.
Mr Nerhus, a well-known local diver with more than five years' experience, struggled free from the shark's jaws and was pulled back aboard the boat by his son.
Two other divers in a nearby boat gave him first aid and one radioed his father, who was flying overhead in a spotter plane, to call for help.
The Snowy Hydro Rescue Helicopter arrived shortly after 11.10am and took Mr Nerhus, who was suffering from shock and blood loss, to Wollongong Hospital.
He is in a serious but stable condition.
Mr Nerhus told his rescuers he poked the shark in the eye to fight his way free, a Snowy Hydro Rescue Helicopter spokeswoman said.
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