Man in his 20s bitten by shark near Clack Island

A tourniquet has saved the life of a 21-year-old man after he was bitten by a 1.8m shark while swimming in remote Far North Queensland.

A tourniquet has saved the life of a 21-year-old man after he was bitten by a 1.8m shark while swimming in remote Far North Queensland.

The man was fishing for sea cucumbers near Clack Island on the Cape York Peninsula when he spotted the shark about 11.30am Thursday morning.

Paramedic Valerie Hurlbatt said he was alongside the shark when its behaviour suddenly changed.

The young man was attacked by a 1.8m shark in Far North Queensland. Picture: Brendan Radke

She said the shark turned, attacked him and took a bite out of his right arm near his shoulder and bicep.

She said it was a non-life threatening wound but caused serious bleeding.

He was helped by people near the scene who applied a tourniquet.

“The tourniquet and some basic first aid saved his life,” Ms Hurlbatt said.

“He was really lucky to have the tourniquet it stopped the bleeding.”

The 21-year-old was flown to Cooktown and then to Cairns where is in a stable condition at the hospital.

“He is in good spirits,” Ms Hurlbatt said.

It’s understood he was working at the time of the attack. Picture: Brendan Radke

Paul Spinks, officer in charge of emergency services at Coen, confirmed the incident earlier in the day.

“A rescue 510 is en route from Clack Island back to Cairns,” he said.

“Information is scarce at the moment but it looks like there is a shoulder injury.”

The prevalence of reef sharks was well known in the area, he said, but the culprit in this case might have been a bull shark, according to him.

The young man is good spirits, authorities say. Picture: Brendan Radke

“Most people don’t go swimming in the area due to box jellies and crocodiles,” he said.

According to the Department of Environment and Science entry to Clack Island, part of the Flinders Group National Park (Cape York Peninsula Aboriginal Land), is restricted to protect cultural resources.

“The restriction enables the Flinders Island People and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) to protect and manage the cultural values of the area,” DES material states.

It goes on to say, “a person other than an acknowledged Flinders Island Person, must not enter or remain in the restricted area … without a permit or written approval from QPWS.”

Rescue efforts underway to rush shark bite victim from Clack Island to Cairns Hospital. Picture: QAS

Rescue efforts underway to rush shark bite victim from Clack Island to Cairns Hospital. Picture: QAS

According to data from the Australian Shark Incident Database, Taronga Conservation Society Australia, the last shark attack in Queensland was at Redcliffe in February 2022.

In that attack fisherman Rodney Forster was bitten on the leg by a tiger shark just north of Brisbane.

Prior to that, a 24-year-old Phillip Wayne Brown was attacked by a bull shark in waters off Yarrabah near Cairns in December 2021.

Originally published as Man in his 20s bitten by shark near Clack Island