Although he grew up swimming in the shark-free waters of Lake Coeur d'Alene, Joe Tanner's instincts when attacked by a shark while surfing off the Oregon coast saved his life.

"He was so lucky," Joe's dad, Steve Tanner, told The Press. "He was able to hit the shark in the gills to get him to release him. He was hanging on the back of the board. He basically beat the shark with both hands until it released him."

Joe, 29, of Portland, was surfing with friends near Indian Beach in Ecola State Park on Oct. 10 when a dorsal fin appeared in the water near them. A shark sunk its teeth into Joe's upper thigh and above his ankle, covering an area of about 26 inches/Devin Heilman, Coeur d'Alene Press. More here.

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