Ore. surfer: Attacking shark felt like ‘sandpaper’

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — An Oregon surfer who was attacked by a shark earlier this month says the huge animal felt like “grainy sandpaper” as he struggled to free his leg from its mouth.

Joseph Tanner told KOIN-TV on Wednesday (http://bit.ly/2ewbNFa) 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.