Tourist, 57,  mauled in bloody shark attack in front of horrified beachgoers as beast takes bite out of leg in Thailand

In front of startled beachgoers in Thailand, a German tourist was mauled in a violent shark attack.

Elke Maier, 57, was swimming in front of her hotel in Phang Nga when the beast bit her leg, causing her to scream in agony.

A 12-inch (30-cm) wound on her left lower leg gushed blood onto the beach as shocked holidaymakers assisted her in limping ashore.

After being taken to the nearby hospital from Khao Lak Beach, Elke was taken to a larger institution in Phuket for urgent surgery.

She will undergo a second procedure today after recuperating there since Friday.

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