BEIJING, May 12 (Xinhuanet) -- An Australian woman dove into water after hearing a swimmer's cries for help and dragged the swimmer to safety from a large shark's attack, according to media reports Monday.

    Joannne Lucas, 50 years old, arrived at Middleton Beach in Western Australia on Saturday when she found Jason Cull was attacked by a four-meter white pointer shark about 80 meters offshore.

    Cull, 37-year-old, was bitten on the calf and knee by the shark when Lucas, a volunteer at the local surf club, reached him.

    Cull was taken to Albany Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery for lacerations to his left leg late Sunday.

    "It was much bigger than a dolphin when it came up. It banged straight into me - I realised what it was, it was a shark," Cull told media from his hospital bed.

    "I sort of punched it, and it grabbed me by the leg and dragged me under the water," said Cull.

    Lucas said she swam to Cull, "I got to him and he said: 'Thank God. Thank you so much -- a shark has attacked my leg.''

    "I kept thinking that I've got to get him in before it turns around and comes after us. I was thinking I have to beat (the shark) in (to shore)," said Lucas.

    But Lucas denied that she was a hero.

    "It was instinct. I really didn't think about it. And I'm definitely not doing it for hero status, I've better things to keep me occupied," she said.

    Middleton Beach would be closed until further notice, while the City of Albany council would send up a private spotter plane later to patrol from the air.

    (Agencies)