Ananova:

A shark entangled itself in a surfer's leg rope in Australia and began towing him and his board out to sea.

John Morgan, 51, a surf shop owner from Byron Bay, compared his terrifying 170ft ride to being towed by a jet ski.

He said he was about 300 metres from shore and paddling out when the 10ft shark swelled up from underneath him, reports Metro.

"It freaked me out," Mr Morgan said. "It bumped my leg rope and next thing it tangled itself in the leg rope and started charging out to sea with me in tow."

"To say it was like being towed by a jet ski might be an exaggeration, but it was really fast," he added.

Mr Morgan said he clung to the board until the shark suddenly freed itself and disappeared. The rope was not damaged and remained attached to the board and his ankle.

He was not even sure what kind of shark it was: "He was probably as freaked out as I was," he said