Diver escapes from shark's mouth

An Australian diver fought himself free from the jaws of a 10ft great white shark that swallowed his head and shoulders and then bit him around the torso.

Eric Nerhus, an abalone diver, told rescuers that he pushed his abalone chisel into the shark's head and poked it in the eye. He then fought it off when it returned for a second attack, clamping its jaws around his body.

Mr Nerhus, 41, was said to be in a serious but stable condition in Wollongong Hospital, south of Sydney, last night after the attack off southern New South Wales yesterday.

He was submerged with his son and other divers when the shark attacked. With the first bite, the shark crushed Mr Nerhus's reinforced face mask, leaving him with a broken nose. The brunt of the second bite was taken by his lead weight vest, but his wetsuit was shredded. He suffered shock and blood loss and was left with lacerations to his body, left arm and head. His 25-year-old son managed to pull him into their boat.