SYDNEY, Sept 8, 2008 (AFP) - An Australian surfer said a large shark towed him out to sea like a "powerful jet-ski" after it became entangled in the leg rope of his surfboard, a newspaper reported.

John Morgan said the thrashing animal dragged him more than 50 metres after it became ensnared in the rope linking his ankle to the board during his daily lunchtime surf on the mid-north coast's Clarks Beach on Sunday.

"I had just come off a wave when I saw a large swirl of water," he told the Northern Star newspaper. "I was then suddenly hauled backwards. It felt like I was riding behind a powerful jet ski."

Morgan said he clung to the stand-up paddle board for the journey, hoping the shark would get itself free of the rope.

"The water was dirty so I couldn't make out what type of shark it was but I knew from the splashing white water that it was roughly eight to ten foot," Morgan said.

The 51-year-old, who manages a surf shop in the popular north coast town of Byron Bay, said the encounter happened as he was about 200 to 300 metres from shore.

"I think the shark was as scared as I was," he said. "It totally freaked me out; I'm just glad it didn't turn around and bite me."

Sharks are a common risk in the waters around Australia's coast and attacks are reported regularly.

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