A 62-year-old British man has been fired after video showed him wrestling a shark while on vacation in Queensland, Australia.

Paul Marshallsea who was seen grabbing a two-metre shark by the tail out of fear it would attack a group of children that were paddling, was sacked because he was on sick leave with stress since last April.

His employers Pant and Dowlais Boys & Girls Club, a children's charity saw the video and sent a letter to Marshallsea informing him that he had been relieved of his duties.

Marshallsea says he is "disgusted" by the way he has been treated and thinks he should've at least received a pat on the back for saving the children.

He adds that he took the vacation at the advise of his doctor.