The man who suffered serious leg injuries in a shark attack at a Geraldton beach on Monday morning has been identified as local firefighter and keen surfer Mel Ismail.

Mr Ismail is understood to be well known in the local surfing community and works as a firefighter at Geraldton Fire Station. He is currently listed in a serious but stable condition in hospital.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) said the shark attack at Glenfield Beach was reported to authorities about 9.50am.

Police said a 56-year-old man had sustained serious leg injuries and rushed to Geraldton Health Campus, arriving around 10.30am.

It is understood Mr Ismail was surfing alone, but another nearby surfer came to his rescue and dragged him to shore.

There, the good Samaritan surfer and a group of teenagers on the beach reportedly administered first aid, before it’s believed the surfer drove him to a meeting point with St John WA paramedics.

It has been reported the group of young heroes used a surfboard rope as a makeshift tourniquet to help save Mr Ismail’s life.

The size and species of the shark involved in the attack on Mr Ismail has not been confirmed.

However, a shark of unknown size and species was reportedly spotted 40m off shore at the beach about 9.50am, according to Surf Life Saving WA.

Mr Ismail’s neighbour Mighel Chivilo said they had lived opposite each other for “about 20 years”.

“(Our kids have) grown up together, he’s a good guy,” he said.

Mr Chivilo had heard that Mr Ismail was undergoing surgery in Geraldton on Monday.

It is understood Mr Ismail has a partner as well as adult children from a separate relationship.

“Mel is a great Samaritan, a lovely, great neighbour,” Mr Chivilo said.

“He’s a keen surfer, he’s always down there, so it’ll be a bit of a blow to him. But I’m sure he’ll come back though. He’s got a good spirit.”

Mr Chivilo had heard some local teenagers were at the beach at the time. “It would have been a shock for them,” he said.

Acting fire and emergency services commissioner Melissa Pexton confirmed that a DFES staff member was injured off-duty while surfing in Geraldton on Monday.

“Our thoughts are with him, his family, friends and DFES colleagues,” she said.

“I would like to thank the first responders who went to his aid. The DFES wellness team and regional staff are providing support to the injured staff member, his family and his work colleagues.”

Some of Mr Ismail social media posts reveal a great love of the ocean and surfing. He even posted a photo with champion Australian surfer Mick Fanning, who famously punched a great white shark to avoid an attack of his own while competing in South Africa in 2015.

Local Jarrad Gray was at Glenfield Beach when he was told about the shark attack.

“We were just having a look out at the beach, and possibly have a look at the fish. And someone just come past in the quad and just said someone ... was knocked off their board by a shark,” he said.

Mr Gray said the news was alarming, but he wasn’t worried for his own safety.

“I don’t now anyway (go much into the ocean). I only go up to my waist and come back out,” he said.

“But I know plenty of people being nudged (by sharks in the past) and things like that.”

The City of Greater Geraldton has temporarily closed off a portion of Glenfield Beach, , south of the intersection of Glenfield Beach Drive and Surfside Terrace.

City of Greater Geraldton mayor Jerry Clune said the news was upsetting and he thoughts were with the victim and his family. He shark attacks around that locations were “unusual”.

“A few years ago, down in Greenough, there was one, but for this particular area, there haven’t been any known attacks for some time,” he said.

Geraldton MLA and shadow fisheries minister Kirrilee Warr said her thoughts were also with the victim, his family and first responders. She said the Opposition was seeking further updates from from authorities and the minister in relation to this incident.

“What we do know is that fewer than 300 sharks are currently tagged under the State’s monitoring program. We have previously called on the Government to undertake a review of the shark monitoring system to ensure it is providing the best possible information and protection for coastal communities,” she said.

Ms Warr said this incident raised broader questions about the resourcing of the fisheries department and whether shark mitigation measures were “adequately funded, evidence-based and delivering results.”

A WA Country Health Service spokesperson said on Monday morning that the patient was in a serious but stable condition after arriving at Geraldton Health Campus.