54-year-old Perth man Cameron Wrathall was attacked by a bull shark in the Swan River and spoke about how he almost died from his injuries.

He said to 7NEWS that the shark was almost three metres wide and attacked him with such force that it broke his hip.

“The shark hit me really hard, it’s the biggest impact I’ve ever felt of something hitting me. It was then trying to shake from side to side to tear part of me away,” he said.

“It all happened very quickly, and I just did a kick onto part of it and a thrust down on my hands to push it off me - and hit it pretty hard with the palms of my hands, and it went.”

After fighting off the shark and swimming to shore, Wrathall's injuries were severe.

He was left with a broken hip, one leg paralysed and had gaping bite wounds from his groin to his buttocks.

“In the ambulance, I did die, most likely from blood loss, and I’m very thankful to the ambulance officers for bringing me back,” he said.

Wrathall nearly died in hospital from his injuries and was unconscious for two days as trauma surgeons rushed to save him.

“I’m very happy to be here and I can’t thank you enough for all you and the people in this hospital have done for me,” he said.

Ironically, Wrathall used to swim in the ocean but switched to the river as he wanted to avoid sharks.

Despite the fact it may be almost two years before he can walk again as his sciatic nerve was severed in two places, Wrathall is just thankful to be alive.

Photo credits: 7NEWS