RI shark attack victim talks to FOX25

(MyFoxBoston.com) -- A Rhode Island native returned to Logan Airport Wednesday after being bitten by a shark in Hawaii.

Colin Cook, 25, was sitting on his surfboard in the waters of Leftovers Beach Park, in Oahu, when he was attacked by the shark. Witnesses say his legs were dangling it the water when it happened, and it appears he lost his left leg, above the knee.

Cook apparently hit the shark several times before it let go of his leg.

He landed in Boston Wednesday, telling FOX25, "Once I kind realized what was going on, you know, I saw a shark on my leg and I kind of pushed off with my left hand. My left hand was all mangled up and I kind of was punching it with my right hand in the nose and luckily, it kind of let go and swam up and grabbed my board."

Cook says this won't keep him out of the water forever and now he is focused on the recovery process.

"I need to have surgery on my ring finger and my pinky finger," he said.

He went on to say, "It's crazy, each day is like a roller coaster. My mind it was just one day at a time. It's just up-and-down, some days are better than others."

Despite all of this, Colin says if he could surf now he would, something his dad isn't a fan of. He says his son is persistent and will get it done. In the meantime, the friends have set up a GoFundMe account to help with all of Cook's surgeries. Click here to donate. 

Cox Media Group