Australian swimmers have been urged to stay out of the water over fears a giant shark will attack.

A 10 ft long great white shark has been pictured off the Queensland coast with two massive chunks missing on either sides of its bodies, which experts claim has been attacked by a predator at least twice its size.

The shark was savaged after it got caught on a baited hook attached to a buoy near North Stradbroke Island, east of Brisbane.

Queensland Fisheries' Jeff Krause said: "It certainly opened up my eyes. I mean the shark that was caught is a substantial shark in itself."

Swimmers have now been warned to stay out of the water near the island.