Maraetai Beach fisherman attacked by shark

A fisherman is counting his good luck after surviving a shark attack off popular Maraetai Beach, near Auckland.

Ken Lindberg was checking his nets when he felt something clamp around his leg.

He waded back into shallow water and found a big gash in his leg.

"Doctors and nurses held my leg right up to stop the bleeding," he told NewstalkZB.

"On the outside of the left leg there are eight to 10 stitches in that gash."

"Underneath the Achilles tendon is severed and I've got about four stitches in that."