PICTURED: 'Sweet and humble' Brazilian student, 26, killed in first fatal shark attack in US tourist hot spot Cape Cod in more than 80 years as he bodyboarded in the sea (3 Pics)

The Massachusetts man who was killed in a shark attack at Cape Cod has been identified and described by friends as being 'sweet' and 'humble'. 

Arthur Medici, 26, was attacked as he was boogie boarding with his girlfriend's brother on Saturday afternoon at Newcomb Hollow Beach in Wellfleet, cops say.

The Cape Cod National Park Service reported that at 12.30pm the Revere man was knocked off his board then attacked by the shark. Police identified him Saturday evening. 

Medici was born in Brazil and came to the United States two years ago to attend college, according to WCVB. He was described by friends as being sweet and humble.

The Saturday incident is the state's first shark attack fatality in more than 80 years.

Following the attack Medici was brought to the shore by his friend where CPR was performed on him and beach goers tried to make a tourniquet to stop the blood flow, according to CBS.  

He was taken to a Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis where he died, State Police spokesman David Procopio said in a statement. The details of his injuries have not been revealed. 

The beach was closed after the vicious attack and police released his identity Saturday evening.

Local fisherman and surfer Joe Booth said he was on the shore and witnessed the shark's strike. He said the victim aggressively kicked something behind him then he saw a flicker of a tail in the water.

'I was that guy on the beach screaming "Shark, shark!" It was like right out of that movie Jaws. This has turned into Amity Island real quick out here,' Booth said WBUR. 

A California surfer on the beach, who chose to remain anonymous, told the Boston Globe that he saw Medici unconscious and heavily bleeding from his right leg. 

'I saw that he was bleeding and reached around the back of his leg, and there was nothing there. And there were bone-deep lacerations down by his calf,' he said.

Surfer Andrew Jacobs shared video of dozens of Good Samaritans carrying the victim's body away from the water.

'Pretty sad day at the beach today. Amazing effort by everyone who jumped into action to help this young man out. Prayers to him and his family,' Jacobs captioned his video.

Former lifeguard and witness Hayley Williamson said she was shocked to hear of the attack. 

'We’ve been surfing all morning right here and they were just further down. Right spot, wrong time, I guess,' she said to WHDH. 

'Today is just keeping everyone out of water. There'll be a determination later about what the town wants to do with the beaches going forward,' Wellfleet Police Lieutenant Michael Hurley said. 

This is the first fatal shark attack to take place in Massachusetts since 1936. This is the second shark attack to take place in Cape Cod this summer.  

On August 15 a 61-year-old New York man was severely injured after fighting off a shark off Truro, Massachusetts, four miles north of where Saturday's attack took place. He's recovering from his wounds in a Boston hospital. 

Newcomb Hollow Beach, where Medici was boogie boarding, has a sign saying 'Be Shark Smart' warning swimmers to avoid going near seals and to swim near the shore.

'The inshore waters off Wellfleet are a feeding ground for Great White Sharks. They come to this area to feed on seals. Great White Sharks are predators and should be considered dangerous. Encounters with sharks are rare, but please remain alert,' the sign said.  

Wellfleet beach is popular with surfers and was busy on Saturday, even though lifeguards were no longer on watch as the summer season is over.   

The Wellfleet Police Department reported the incident on Facebook shortly afterwards saying it is believed to be a shark bite attack. 

Police did not name the victim until Saturday evening.

The attack is being investigated by State Police and the Cape and Islands District Attorney's office.