A shark attack survivor has recounted the chilling moments when he came face-to-face with a predator last month. Australian surfer Mel Ismail, 56, made his first television appearance on ABC News since the attack while surfing at Glenfield Beach, Western Australia.

Ismail was rescued by a fellow surfer who risked his life by entering the bloodied water. Recalling the nightmare, Ismail said he was watching a pod of dolphins one moment and staring into the eye of a shark the next.

"I thought I got hit by a dolphin initially because there were so many of them," Ismail recalled. "But no, something grabbed me and dragged me down.

I knew it was a shark." After being pulled under, he found himself face-to-face with the creature. "I saw its big black eye and tried to gouge it with my finger.

I knew it had my leg." The encounter resulted in the loss of his right leg below the knee.

"I reckon it gave me a wink, then bit my leg off," he recounted. Despite the trauma, Ismail maintained his composure, driven by a survival instinct that, coupled with the timely intervention of a fellow surfer, saved his life.

The incident has sent shockwaves through the local surfing community in Western Australia, prompting discussions about water safety and shark mitigation strategies. Ismail expressed deep gratitude toward his rescuer, noting that without the quick thinking of the stranger, he would not have survived the severe blood loss.

Medical professionals treating Ismail have praised his resilience, noting that his calm demeanor during the attack likely played a significant role in his survival. As he continues his recovery, Ismail remains optimistic about his future, stating that he hopes to return to the ocean once he is physically rehabilitated.