British surfer attacked by shark

Surfer Jay Catharell is in a 'satisfactory condition'

A British surfer required 100 stitches after being bitten on the legs and buttocks by a shark in South Africa.

Jay Catharall, from Kempsey in Worcestershire, was attacked at the mouth of the Kei river in Eastern Cape.

Mr Catherall, who returned to his hotel within hours of treatment, was bitten by a ragged tooth shark, a National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) spokesman said.

The 32-year-old, who has enjoyed surfing for 15 years, said he is determined to get back into the sea.

'Freak accident'

In March, surfer Chris Sullivan, 32, of Newquay, Cornwall, survived an attack by a great white shark in South Africa.

Mr Sullivan needed 200 stitches after the Cape Town incident.

The mouth of the Kei river is not normally associated with shark activity.

Craig Lambinon, NSRI spokesman, said he believed it was the first incident in the area in a long time.

The shark was probably just biting at anything in its path Craig Lambinon NSRI

"We are pretty confident it was a freak accident," he said.

"The shark was probably just biting at anything in its path because there were a lot of fish in the area at the time."

The NSRI spokesman added that Mr Catharall had been offered further hospital treatment but had chosen to return to his hotel instead.

"He has been released in a satisfactory condition."

His mother, Lesley, told BBC News her son hit the creature on its head.

"He was tipped back and it got his elbow but he whacked it on the head and tried to get away but it grabbed his legs," she said.

"He fought it off as best he could but it just kept happening until it went.

"He didn't know if he stunned it or it just got bored."