Darren Mills (32) was attacked on the evening of February 7 in 2014.
Last night, a Frenchwoman was recovering in Dunedin Hospital after being bitten by a shark in the same bay yesterday afternoon.
Mr Mills said hearing about her ordeal was a surreal reminder of what he had gone through.
''I find it real crazy. It's not happened for over three years.
''Millions of people been surfing all over New Zealand throughout that time and then that happens in the same bay.''
The former avid surfer used to spend each weekend chasing the Southland surf, but now spends his free time mostly out of the water.
Mr Mills, who lives in Arrowtown, said although a shark attack was a pretty rare occurrence, he was not so keen to test the waters again.
''I haven't been back to the bay since it happened,'' he said.
''I surfed for a good seven years before that. Sounds stupid, but yeah ... maybe one day [I'll surf again].''
It took him about three months to recover from the injury to his right leg. The attack had left him with three deep gashes between his thigh and his calf.
But Mr Mills said his leg was in pretty good shape considering what he had gone through.
''It's a bit numb with a few scars,'' he said.
''But it makes for a pretty good pub story.''
