Florida: David Daniel brutally mauled in gruesome shark attack at Boca Grande Key Beach

An American man has detailed his brush with death after he was mauled by a shark at a beach in Florida.

David Daniel was fishing near a sandbar at Boca Grande Key Beach on August 23 when he spotted a shark along the coastline.

But his efforts to steer clear of the predator failed when he “started to move a little bit” in the shallow water before the grey nurse swam towards him and attacked, WSVN reports.

After a struggle to free his foot from the shark’s jaws, Mr Daniel was eventually freed from its grip and managed to flag down a pair of nurses who were travelling on a nearby boat.

Mr Daniel’s was raced to shore by the off-duty nurses and airlifted to Jackson South Medical Center a short time later.

Speaking to Today from his hospital bed, the 43-year-old recounted the sheer panic that ensued when he realised he was in big trouble.

“Sitting on the beach, bleeding out, I really was kind of making peace with myself, going, ‘If it’s your time to go, it’s your time to go,’ ” he said.

“There’s no way you’re getting off this beach.”

Mr Daniels said he considered himself lucky to be alive and thanked the nurses for saving his life.

“Then when I saw the two nurse people come up, they were like angels coming out of nowhere,” he said.

“If it weren’t for them, I would 100 per cent be dead on the beach.

“Grace to God that they were all medically trained people and nurses and EMTs.”

Mr Daniels underwent two surgeries in hospital to treat the bite wounds on his right foot.

“I can’t really move around at all. My foot is in a boot and it’s all wrapped up from the surgeries. I feel OK, like pretty strong,” he told WSVN.

“Just my blood pressure’s acting a little funny because, you know, I just got attacked by a shark.

“So I’m kind of just trying to stay positive and think of all the good people that are helping me out and trying to stay in a good mindset and happy.”

Mr Daniels faces an extensive road to recovery at home after he was discharged from hospital on August 26.

His friend Robyn Corliss has set up a GoFundMe to raise money to help pay for his medical bills.

“Right now, Dave is expected to be unable to walk for six to eight weeks and will need extensive physical therapy, with months away from work while he heals,” the statement read.

“Because he does not have health insurance, this sudden emergency has created an overwhelming financial burden on top of the physical and emotional toll of recovery.”