At around 11 a.m. on Tuesday, a great white shark measuring 3 meters attacked a 23-year-old surfer named Kai McKenzie at North Shore Beach in Port Macquarie, on the mid-north coast of New South Wales. He courageously fought the shark and made it back to shore, but his leg was severed during the attack.
By improvising a tourniquet out of his dog’s leash, an off-duty police officer stopped the bleeding that was threatening McKenzie’s life. McKenzie was airlifted to the major trauma center at Newcastle Hospital, where he was described as ‘calm’ and ‘able to converse’ despite his severe condition.
Meanwhile, his leg miraculously washed up on shore. Good Samaritans put the leg on ice and sent it to the hospital.
Trauma surgeon Dr. Randy Bindra discussed the challenges of trying to reattach a severed limb following a shark attack. His first priority, he said, was ensuring the patient’s ability to endure the lengthy surgical operation. The second consideration is the state of the tendons and nerves and the passage of time. He noted that the condition of the bone and tissue is critical, as tissue begins to deteriorate rapidly after amputation because blood flow is interrupted.
According to Dr. Bindra, McKenzie has a lengthy recuperation ahead of him: six to eight weeks without reattachment and at least a year with a successful reattachment. He added that it is usually more challenging to cope with the psychological aspects of a severe injury than the physical ones.
To save a limb, it’s best to avoid placing a severed limb directly on ice, although keeping it wet and cold will help. Even if surgeons reconnect the limb properly, it is uncertain if it can heal and function normally. A patient could benefit from and have an easier time adjusting to life with a prosthetic limb if their natural limb is not going to become functional following surgery.
Depending on the situation, a reattachment procedure might take anywhere from 10 to 24 hours.
The status of McKenzie’s limb reattachment is unknown, and his family has requested privacy.
