The rescuer who helped save the victim of a shark attack in Geraldton has returned to the beach for the first time.
Shannan Dunn did not hesitate to paddle to the aid of Mel Ismail after the 56-year-old firefighter was bitten by a shark on Monday.
Mr Dunn says he has spoken to Mr Ismail's family and hopes to reunite with him when he's recovered from his injuries.
A man who responded to a shark attack on Western Australia's Midwest coast says he is struggling to forget the sight of the blood.
Having surfed at Glenfield Beach in Geraldton for more than 20 years, Shannan Dunn had eagerly run up a sand dune to check the conditions on Monday morning.
He snapped a picture of the swell with another surfer, Mel Ismail, in the distance before running back to his car to put on his wetsuit.
Moments later, Mr Ismail was bitten by a shark.
"His board was about 5 metres away, and he had his arm up," Mr Dunn said.
Mr Dunn raced into the water and swam out in Mr Ismail's direction.
"I don't think I really hesitated; I just wanted to get to him as quick as I could," he said.
"He said, 'Shark — it's got my leg', and I decided I wasn't going to look at it."
Mr Dunn said he "clumsily" paddled Mr Ismail to the beach, where a bystander made a makeshift tourniquet from a leg rope while another called Triple Zero (000).
"He had lost his foot from just above his ankle," Mr Dunn said.
"He … looked like he could fade out at any moment.
"We didn't know how much blood he had lost."
Mr Dunn brought his four-wheel drive onto the beach and, along with some teenagers and the other bystanders, got Mr Ismail into the back to meet the paramedics.
The 56-year-old firefighter was rushed to the Geraldton Health Campus with serious injuries, where he remains in a stable condition.
A St John WA spokesperson said the first aid administered by those at the scene was "exceptional" and helped paramedics to rapidly transfer Mr Ismail to hospital.
"St John WA pays tribute to the quick thinking and skills of those on scene," they said.
Mr Dunn returned to the scene of the rescue on Thursday, three days on from the attack.
"When I look out to where the sets are and stuff, I can still envision the blood," he said.
Despite the trauma, Mr Dunn plans to get back in the water sooner than later.
"I've given myself a week … if the conditions are right and there are enough people in the water, I'll probably give it a crack," he said.
"I don't think I'll be able to keep away from it for too long."
Glenfield Beach reopened on Wednesday morning, and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) confirmed it had stopped patrolling the area.
A DPIRD spokesperson said DNA from the damaged board and Mr Ismail's wetsuit was still being analysed to determine the species "most likely" behind the attack.
Mr Dunn said Mr Ismail's family told him he was recovering well in hospital.
"It's looking very promising, I'd say, at this stage," Mr Dunn said.
"You've always got to touch a bit of wood, though."
Mr Dunn hoped he could reunite with Mr Ismail soon.
"Hopefully I don't bring back any bad memories from that day," Mr Dunn said.
"I'm hoping that he will be stoked to see us, as I'm just as stoked to see him, to be honest.
"I literally can't wait for that day, but it's only when he's ready."