Shark Attack leaves swimmer with terrible injuries after being dragged underwater in carolina

             Terrifying: A man was savaged by a shark while standing in waist deep water

             

A man has been left with gruesome injuries after a terrifying shark attack in North Carolina - the SEVENTH in the state in the past three weeks.

The 68-year-old was dragged underwater by the seven foot long animal as it tore into his ribcage, legs, hip and both hands.

jacksonfuqua / Twitter

Dragged: The seven foot monster pulled its victim underwater

Horrified witnesses said the victim was only waist deep in the water and just 30 foot from the safety of the shore.

He was in plain view of the lifeguard's tower when the giant predator started its savage assault, according to Sky News.

The victim was given emergency treatment for about 20 minutes at the scene, before being flown to hospital by helicopter.

Epidemic: The incident was the Carolina's seventh shark attack in the past three weeks

Nobody else was hurt in the attack, which took place at a beach on Ocracoke Island around midday.

Just a couple of hours later swimmers were back in the ocean - and "nobody seemed to be that scared", according to one holidaymaker.

Shark attacks in the Carolinas are at their highest level in 15 years.

jacksonfuqua / Twitter

Savaged: The 68-year-old was treated at the beach before being airlifted to hospital

Other attacks in recent weeks took place at Waves, Avon, Surf City, Oak Island, Ocean Isle, Sullivan's Island, Saint Helana Island and Hunting Island.

Last month, a 16-year-old boy described losing his left arm during an earlier attack in North Carolina.

Some experts say it is due to more swimmers heading into the the sea.