Teacher bitten by shark in water off Devon beach is 'first surfer to be attacked in UK'

A surfer has described how he hit a shark on the head after it bit him on the leg while he was in the water off a Devon beach.

Teacher Rich Thomson, 30, estimated the shark was about 3ft (1m) long while experts said it was the first incident of its type involving surfers in UK waters.

Mr Thomson said the shark "grabbed me on the leg" at Bantham in South Devon and he turned to see a "little shark" on his thigh, wriggling it head from side to side.

Speaking to the BBC, he said: "I hit it on the head and it swam off. My hand was cut to pieces.

Read more at http://www.devonlive.com/teacher-bitten-by-shark-in-water-off-devon-beach-is-first-surfer-to-be-attacked-in-uk-waters/story-30377570-detail/story.html#xWS4M5u560pPBVP4.99