A dentist has described the terrifying moment a bull shark sunk its teeth into him while he was spearfishing in the Bahamas.

Dr Steven Cutbirth, from Texas, said he had just caught a large hogfish and was making his way to the surface when the 6ft predator "crashed into the right side of my head".

Dr Cutbirth, who was fishing with his son-in-law and a guide, said on Facebook he was stunned as he saw "the white bottom side of the shark's mouth along with a wide open mouth and plenty of teeth".

He then hit the shark using the spear handle before it attacked him again in a "full frenzy", biting his face and leg.

Image: The dentist was attacked by a bull shark. File picture

Another social media post said the shark had been going for the 10lb hogfish on his spear when it "hit him like an 18 wheeler (truck) and knocked off his mask".


The dentist kicked the fish with his fin and then quickly swam to the surface where he was helped onto a boat by his colleagues.

He was then treated by a nurse in a medical clinic on a nearby island.

He wrote on Facebook: "My dive mask and knife (strapped to my right leg) seem to have prevented significant tissue loss.

"The bites were above my mask on my forehead and below my mask through my upper right lip and cheek.

"He got a nice bite on my right knee on both sides of the kneecap and my right outer thigh. All in all, no complaints - a very lucky person. All men should have a few well placed scars on their face, don't you think?"