Surfer kicks shark in the head, by accident

A 20-year-old competitive surfer who was bitten by a shark on NSW's mid-north coast says he accidentally stood on the shark's head.

Ryan Hunt was surfing in small waves at Wallabi Point, south of Port Macquarie, when he was attacked on Wednesday evening.

The attack has left Mr Hunt with deep cuts on his foot, but hasn't dented his sense of humour.

He posted a photo of his bloody, punctured foot on social media, writing "Apparently sharks like feet..."

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The 20-year-old said he had to shake the shark off when it bit his foot, but it then charged again at his legs.

Speaking over the phone from his hospital bed, Mr Hunt said he had returned home from work and decided to go for a surf about 6pm.

"Apparently sharks like feet...." Hunt joked on social media. Photo: ryanjhunt on Instagram

"I caught a wave in, got off, and then stood on a shark's head," he said on Thursday.

"I was in waist-deep water and put my foot down.

"I thought it was a rock at first and then it latched on to my foot."

He kicked the shark with his other foot to try and get it to release its grip, but it latched down again, he said.

Ryan Hunt competing in the GoPro Junior titles in Japan. Photo: Supplied

He said he doesn't know what type of shark it was and joked it could have even been "a very large goldfish".

Mr Hunt underwent surgery on Thursday.

He is an experienced surfer who recently returned from competing in Japan.

Ryan Hunt in action. Photo: Supplied

Morning news break - October 30