Girlfriend of Perth surfer Phil Mummert who was mauled by a great white shark thanks rescuers

The girlfriend of a surfer who was savagely mauled by a shark has issued a moving Facebook post thanking the total strangers who saved his life.

Phil Mummert, 28, was attacked by a five-metre-long shark while surfing at Bunker Bay, south of Perth, on Friday, leaving him with a gaping wound on his right thigh.

The great white shark who attacked the surfer and snapped his surfboard in half in the process, taking a chunk out of his leg.

His girlfriend, Mish Wright, provided an update on social media and shared images of the surfer in good spirits while recovering at Bunbury Hospital.

Phil Mummert, 28, (pictured, right) was attacked by a five-metre shark at Bunker Bay but was saved by fellow surfers promoting his girlfriend Mish Wright (left) to thank his rescuers 

Ms Wright shared images of Mr Mummert (pictured) recovering at Bunbury Hospital while in good spirits

 Ms Wright shared images of Mr Mummert (pictured) recovering at Bunbury Hospital while in good spirits

‘I just want to let everyone know that Phil is doing okay,’ Ms Wright said.

Ms Wright recounted the inspiring efforts of his fellow surfers who immediately paddled towards Mr Mummert and took him to shore.

‘I honestly don’t know how a person can see a total stranger getting attacked by a four-metre great white shark and swim towards to save him so we are beyond grateful to everyone that helped save Phil’s life,’ she said.

‘So lucky that Phil got away with his life and limbs and beyond lucky that we live in such a kind and caring community.         

‘So thankful for everyone who carried him to shore and for the ones that held his leg together for half an hour while waiting for the ambulance. 

‘Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,’ she said.

Mr Mummert (pictured with emergency services and the surfers who rescued him) hit the great white with his surfboard and the five metre shark bit his board and right thigh

Mr Mummert (pictured with emergency services and the surfers who rescued him) hit the great white with his surfboard and the five metre shark bit his board and right thigh

Witnesses said Mr Mummert's shark bite (pictured) was up to 150mm deep after he was attacked during a surf trip

Witnesses said Mr Mummert’s shark bite (pictured) was up to 150mm deep after he was attacked during a surf trip

One of Mr Mummert’s rescuers recounted how quickly the brutal attack unfolded.

‘He’s just sitting on his board and the next thing you know we just heard someone go “shark”,’ one of Mr Mummert’s rescuers told Nine News. 

‘I turned around and I’ve just seen this white (shark) kind of breach and it had already smashed, hit Phil.

‘It just obliterated his board, it was just floating there like icicles.’

The five-metre great white shark also bit Mr Mummert's board in half (pictured) during the attack on Friday

The five-metre great white shark also bit Mr Mummert’s board in half (pictured) during the attack on Friday

The surfer said some of the gashes in Mr Mummert’s leg were 150mm long.  

A helicopter was sent to the popular beach and the surfer was airlifted to Bunbury Regional Hospital. 

Mr Mummert’s mother, Jennifer, said on Friday he was still in hospital and would undergo surgery in either Bunbury or Perth.   

‘They are waiting for the surgeon to have a look,’ she told The West Australia.

‘He’s awake and he hasn’t lost too much blood. He’s been incredibly lucky.  

Mr Mummert was attacked on the southeast coast of Western Australia (pictured) on Friday

Mr Mummert was attacked on the southeast coast of Western Australia (pictured) on Friday

A group of surfers came to Mr Mummert's (pictured) aid and paddled him to shore after the shark attack

A group of surfers came to Mr Mummert’s (pictured) aid and paddled him to shore after the shark attack

Another surfer who came to Mr Mummert’s aid, Jess Woolhouse, said it was a ‘life or death’ situation.

‘We all sort of made an effort to get him onto the board and start heading in just sort of yelling and trying to splash the water,’ he explained. 

Mr Woolhouse said a group of six or seven people had also formed on the beach and it was a community effort to help Mr Mummert to shore. 

He explained Mr Mummert was in good spirits and his bleeding was staunched before the 28-year-old was airlifted to hospital.  

Ms Wright (pictured right with Mr Mummert) wrote a heartfelt message to her boyfriend's rescuers and said she was 'beyond grateful to everyone that helped save Phil's life'

Ms Wright (pictured right with Mr Mummert) wrote a heartfelt message to her boyfriend’s rescuers and said she was ‘beyond grateful to everyone that helped save Phil’s life’ 

A Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development statement said they were investigating the attack. 

‘DPIRD is working with local authorities to coordinate responses,’ the statement read. 

The beach has been closed and DPIRD officers will be conducting patrols.  

There has been a spate of shark attacks on the east coast in recent months including five fatalities this year. 

Ms Wright said she could not believe  that total strangers would swim towards a person who had just been attacked by a great white shark

Ms Wright said she could not believe  that total strangers would swim towards a person who had just been attacked by a great white shark

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk