Man bitten by shark near Victorian coastal town of Queenscliff

A fisherman has suffered a serious hand injury after he was bitten by a shark near the Victorian coastal town of Queenscliff. 

Ambulance Victoria said the 73-year-old man was fishing by himself on a boat around two kilometres off-shore when he was attacked by an estimated five-foot (1.52m) shark. 

The man was bitten after he caught the shark and reeled it onto his boat.

He drove himself back to the Queenscliff Harbour Marina and was treated by waiting paramedics just before 11am. 

Paramedics described the man's injury as a "partial amputation of his hand".

"The man has a serious injury to his hand," Senior Paramedic Team Manager Brad Pole said.

Police took the shark back out to the bay and dumped it back in the water.

The man has been flown to the Alfred Hospital and remains in a serious condition.