Teenage surfer mauled by great white shark shows off his scars - and vows to return to the water

A teenager who was ravaged by a great white shark has vowed to return to the ocean - despite being left with some horrific wounds.

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT

Cooper Allen is recovering in hospital after he was attacked by the 12ft man-eater as he surfed in the waters of Ballina, Australia on Monday morning.

The 17-year-old received four deep lacerations on his right leg from the attack but managed to make it back to shore before becoming dinner for the fish.

Wounds: Cooper received four deep lacerations on his right leg (Facebook/Amanda Abate/7 News)

And his thumbs up to the camera seems to suggest he has no problem getting back on his surfboard once he is fully recovered.

The beach where the attack took place is currently closed while the State Government took measures to protect swimmers from another shark spotted in the waters.

Shark tracking drones, a helicopter and two ‘smart’ drum lines - which hook in sharks and notify authorities so that it can be released elsewhere - have all been deployed.

Predator: A three-metre shark was spotted in nearby waters (Shark Smart/NSW Government)

Ballina Mayor David Wright told Australian TV show Sunrise: “We are going to have as much protection as we can possibly have.”

He added: “We have a high number of people in town for the holidays… we need to make sure people feel safe to go back in.”

A spokesperson for NSW Surf Life Saving has confirmed all beaches in Ballina will be reopened today - providing there are no more shark sightings.

Not put off: The teenager has no plans of avoiding the water (Facebook/Amanda Abate)

Plans for a 700m shark barrier in the ocean were scrapped when conditions provided too risky for divers to enter the water.

Mr Allen previously opposed plans for the net, saying last year: “We still go out there without the net, at our own choice. I don’t think there is any need for it.”

Top pic: Facebook/Amanda Abate/7 News