PORTLAND, Ore. -- An Oregon surfer who was attacked by a shark earlier this month says the huge animal felt like "grainy sand paper" as he struggled to free his leg from its mouth.
Joseph Tanner told KOIN-TV on Wednesday that his entire leg was in the shark's mouth and he punched its gills to get free.
The 29-year-old was attacked while surfing Oct. 10 near Cannon Beach off the Oregon coast by what experts say was likely a great white shark.
Tanner spent nine days in the hospital and had three surgeries on his leg.
Tanner, a trauma nurse, swam to shore after the attack and instructed others how to tie a tourniquet around his mangled leg.
