The severed leg of surfer Kai McKenzie, who was attacked by a shark, washed up on the shore.

The severed leg of a surfer attacked by a shark washed up on a beach in Australia. Doctors are racing against time to reattach the leg.

Kai McKenzie, 23, was attacked by a 3-meter great white shark while surfing near Port Macquarie in New South Wales (NSW) on Tuesday.

According to officials, McKenzie managed to reach the shore by holding onto a wave. There, an off-duty police officer used a makeshift tourniquet to stop the bleeding.

A short while later, the leg washed up on the shore and was taken to the hospital by bystanders, who placed it on ice. Currently, doctors are evaluating surgical options.

McKenzie, a sponsored surfer, is in a serious but stable condition, according to emergency service officials. They thanked the off-duty officer for his quick response to the incident.

Kirran Mowbray from the NSW Ambulance Service said, "He used his dog's leash as a tourniquet... and essentially saved his life until paramedics arrived."

Mowbray described McKenzie as "calm" and "able to speak" after the attack. "He's a really brave and courageous young man," he added.

Shortly after the incident, McKenzie was transported to a local hospital and then airlifted to John Hunter Hospital, a major trauma center about 200 km away in Newcastle. His severed leg also made this long journey.

According to local media reports, McKenzie, a passionate surfer, had recently returned to the water after a serious neck injury that forced him to take a break from the sport.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help McKenzie's family with medical and rehabilitation expenses. As of Wednesday, AUD 75,000 (approximately USD 49,000 or GBP 38,000) has been raised.

Although Australia has the second-highest number of shark attacks after the United States, fatal attacks are relatively rare.