WA shark attack victim filmed himself jumping on hammerhead

A man airlifted to hospital after a shark attack in Western Australia has been revealed as a 32-year-old boat captain who calls himself "the shark rider".

Aaron Moir was taken to Royal Perth Hospital on Wednesday with serious injuries after being attacked by a shark off the Pilbara coast, The West Australian reported.

Mr Moir made waves online back in 2014 after a video of him jumping on the back of a live hammerhead shark was posted online.

The attack this week happened on Tuesday, near Varanus Island about 120 kilometres west of Karratha.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development believe a lemon shark was responsible for the attack, which can grow to almost four metres in length.

Mr Moir, who works for a fishing charter company, was reportedly captaining a boat when the incident took place.

According to the ABC, those in the fishing charter group were required to provide Mr Moir with first aid as the group travelled through the night to reach Exmouth Wharf.

WorkSafe WA told Yahoo News Australia it is not yet officially investigating the incident but was working to establish if the victim was at his place of employment at the time of the attack.

Mr Moir was filmed in 2014 jumping on the back of a hammerhead shark. At the time, he admitted the stunt would be viewed unfavourably.

"I was a bit of an idiot but I’ve worked with sharks for a long time and I understand them and how they go," he told media.

His Instagram account by the name of "Shark Rider Australia" has now been deleted.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority is reportedly investigating the circumstances around the shark attack but would not share details.

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