A surfboard which a bite taken out of it by a shark in Binalong Bay, near St Helens, Tasmania is seen in this handout obtained January 12, 2009. An Australian surfer punched a five-metre (16-ft) shark in the head as he rescued his 13-year-old cousin who had been bitten on the leg and dragged beneath the water, local media reported on Monday.(Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, Jan. 13 (Xinhuanet) -- An Australian surfer dragged his 13-year-old cousin out of the jaws of a Great White shark after punching it on the nose, said media reports on Tuesday.

    Horrified Syb Mundy, 33, saw screaming Hannah Mighall dragged under the water after the five-metre shark bit a chunk out of her surfboard and seized one of her legs.

    Syb, who was surfing off the coast of Tasmania, said, "The shark was thrashing her around like a rag doll. I can remember seeing its head come out of the water and I was going to try and poke it in the eye if I could get close enough."

    As the sea turned red with Hannah’s blood, Syb launched himself at the shark and managed to land a blow on its nose.

    He then dragged Hannah from the shark’s mouth and hurled her on to his board before frantically paddling for the shore.

    Syb recollected how he thought they were safe when a large wave took their surfboard only to discover the shark had come with them. He said "Hannah, no matter how weak you are try and hang on, this wave is going to save our life."

    "But the shark actually got on to the wave with us. We looked to our left and this thing started surfing towards us. We just headed straight to the beach," said Syb.

    (Agencies)