A TEENAGE fisherman narrowly avoided being mauled to death by a 2.5 metre long shark when it sunk its teeth into his leg.

Horror footage shows Brad Vale, 19, trying to spear the killing machine before it turns on him and attacks.

The reef shark can be seen ripping into the young spearfisher's leg, narrowly avoiding major organs in his torso.

He managed to shake off the beast before it could inflict more damage.

The attack, which took place off the coast of Western Australia, left Brad shaken but he was able to walk away without major injury.

3 Stalking ... Fisherman Brad sneaks up on killer shark

Brad, from Albany, Western Australia, was swimming with three other friends when the vicious mauling occurred.

He told Perth News: "I dived down and just sort of sat down at the bottom and a shark came in on me".

Related stories No sign of danger Safety questions for Disney hotel as sign on beach warns not to swim...but makes no mention of alligators LUCKY ESCAPE Terrified Brit family 'chased by alligator' at same Disney resort weeks before beast took toddler Snapped Disturbing pic shows 8ft maneating alligator with a HUMAN BODY in its mouth Holiday Snap Fearless Brit poses for selfies with massive ALLIGATOR after the knobbly beast wandered onto a golf course in Mexico Hooked Daredevil fishermen go SWIMMING with massive sharks after catching 10 of the monsters off Australian beach Jaws dropping Stunning snap captures great white shark launch out of water behind an oblivious surfer Exclusive Having a scream! Chloe Goodman in SHARK attack terror as Jaws strikes during exotic holiday 'Urgent! Emergency!' Diving partner of Brit nan killed by shark made horrifying call to coastguard just after attack

"He got a bit close then did a big turn at me and charged so I gave him a poke.

"When I poked him he just turned back and without me noticing I looked down and he was already chewing on my gut.

3 Attack ... Vicious reef shark lunges at teen fisherman

"I got to the surface and was going to shoot it but I didn’t even have time to do that.

"He sort of latched on to my stomach and I tried to hit it with my gun in my hand but he let go pretty quick."

3 Bite ... Shark sinks its teeth into Brad's leg

Brave Brad said he and his friends continued fishing after the shark frenzy.

“We ended the day with a few mackerel so we were pretty happy.”