A man aged around 60 has died after being attacked by a great white shark while surfing off Australia's Gold Coast, Newsweek reports.

He was found floating face-down, and attempts to save his life failed due to the extent of the injuries to his leg.

"It was a pretty severe attack and the ambulance and paramedics were here and did what they could, but it was to no avail," Chief Lifeguard Warren Young said told ABC News.