'I started laughing, I was in shock': Teen surfer survives shark attack
Thirteen-year-old surfer Kirra-Belle Olsson will undergo surgery this afternoon after being attacked by a shark on the NSW Central Coast.
"I paddled in and, just like, in shock started laughing," she told 7News.
"I just saw my foot and it had a few gashes on it, and I pulled my wetty up and there was a huge gash.
"I got half way carried up the beach by Matt Steinwade and then [I'm] telling my friend Saxon, 'take photos, take photos!'
She had to limp the rest of the way up the beach and then laid down, elevating her foot while an ambulance was called.
Olsson said if it weren't for her wetsuit, the bite "would have gone through to my bone".
It isn't the first time she's encountered sharks in the water. Olsson said she's seen sharks in the water while surfing before, but has never been attacked.
Olsson hopes it will only be two weeks before she can get back on the water.
She took to Instagram after the attack to describe how she was catching her first wave when she was bitten three times.
Avoca shark attack victim Kirra-Belle Olsson said to be in good spirits. Thought someone was grabbing her leg.
— Alex Hart (@alexhart7) October 16, 2014
"[It] tried to pull me under, I just thought it was someone grabbing my foot trying to scar me but it wasn't."
"I paddled in screaming cause I didn't know what to do, my friends Matt and jimmy helped me up the beach as I was telling Saxon who was filming me surf to take photos hahaha."
"I called dad telling him "it's ok I'm fine" and he said "ok well my heart is racing" he finally got to the beach and rushed me to hospital. I am having x-Rays now and surgery at 1pm," Olsson posted from Gosford Hosptial.
Lifesavers are asking people to stay out of the water as they patrol the beach on jetskis.
The shark hasn't been spotted.
A 28-year-old man was attacked by a shark at North Avoca Beach two years ago.
