By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-09-23 14:47:03 | Updated at 2024-09-30 11:28:49
6 days ago
A surfer who lost his leg to a three-metre shark has recalled the moment an off-duty police officer saved his life as he focuses on returning to the water.
Kai McKenzie, 23, spent two months in Newcastle's John Hunter Hospital after he was attacked at an isolated beach near Port Macquarie on the NSW mid north coast in July.
He recalled repeatedly trying to kick the shark away before finally catching a wave to shore where a police officer who had been walking his dog along the beach rushed to his aid.
The off-duty cop created a makeshift tourniquet from his dog's lead- a move that likely saved Mr McKenzie from dying of blood loss.
'He came and saw me at the hospital and it was huge. I would 100 per cent not be here if it wasn't for him,' Mr McKenzie told surfing magazine Stab last week.
'Thank f**k he had a dog lead.'
As well as battling with physical scars and having a leg amputated, Mr McKenzie has struggled to deal with several mental challenges - including gawks from strangers.
'It's been raw. Some people can't read a room and can be pretty insensitive,' he said.
'Hopefully, once I get a prosthetic it'll be different.
'For now, I'm just cruising around on crutches, so it sticks out like dog balls. If it wasn't for Eve (his girlfriend) and my parents sticking by my side the whole f***ing time, my mind would be in a totally different place to what it is now.'
Kai McKenzie (pictured recently with his girlfriend, Eve) spent two months recovering in hospital after he was mauled by a shark in July
Despite almost losing his life in the harrowing ordeal, the surfer is determined to return to the water as soon as possible
Despite the traumatic ambush still fresh in Mr McKenzie's mind, the surfer is determined to return to the water as soon as possible.
He has been consulting with nurses and doctors in the hopes of securing a prosthetic leg.
Part of Mr McKenzie's mental recovery was hearing from fellow surfer Bethany Hamilton who lost her left arm in a 2003 shark attack.
'She was on holiday and she just said to me, 'You don't know what you can do. There hasn't been anyone who's lost a leg that can surf like you'. She just gave me a rundown of the reality of it and changed my whole perspective to stay positive,' Mr McKenzie said.
In a recent social media post, Mr McKenzie shared his determination to resume surfing.
'Looking forward to the day I get back to here, I'm gonna push everything I have to get there, I know it's gonna be a long journey but it's going to happen and all your support has fired me up. So let's get it,' he wrote.
Recalling the attack, Mr McKenzie (pictured) remembered repeatedly trying to kick the shark away before finally catching a wave to shore where a police officer raced to help him
He also shared a touching tribute to his girlfriend in August.
'This bloody girl has really been a massive reason why I'm so motivated, she's been the best nurse you could get!' Mr McKenzie wrote.
'Eve's done so much for me and I love her to bits.
'This is the first day I've been out of the hospital in a month and a half how f**king good!'
Mr McKenzie also shared his thoughts on a leaked video of his attack which went viral online in the days after he lost his limb.
'There's no respect. That's all I see it as. If that was your kid, I'm sure you wouldn't want to see it either,' he said.
