Family’s devastation at death of talented young doctor
A DOCTOR killed by a shark while swimming in the idyllic Whitsundays’ Cid Harbour – the third attack in seven weeks – has been described as an “exceptional gentleman” with a “heart of gold”.
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A DOCTOR killed by a shark while swimming in the idyllic Whitsundays’ Cid Harbour – the third attack in seven weeks – has been described as an “exceptional gentleman” with a “heart of gold”.
Devastated family last night gathered to grieve for Dr Daniel Christidis, a talented young Melbourne doctor who’d spoken at international conferences and published dozens of papers in the specialised field.
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The 33-year-old trainee urologist had been travelling with friends from the medical profession when he was mauled by a shark of unknown species – his injuries so horrific that even his colleagues couldn’t save him.
TRIBUTES FLOW
A cousin of Dr Christidis, said his family was in shock.
“Daniel was my cousin and was an exceptional gentleman,” she said. “He had a heart of gold and was a good soul. We are in disbelief. Daniel was always there to help others.”
A spokeswoman for his employer, Austin Health, where he worked as a research fellow, said they were saddened by his death.
“Our thoughts are with his family during this extremely difficult time. We are reaching out to his colleagues and will provide counselling support to anyone who needs it,” the spokeswoman said.
Dr Christidis’ barber paid an emotional tribute to the funny and witty 33-year-old urologist.
In a post on Facebook, barber Rohan Dissanayake revealed Daniel treated him for a shoulder injury and the pair went on to play social netball together.
“Devastated. Those in Australia might have heard on the news today (6 Nov) that a 33 year old Doctor was mauled by a shark and despite every effort to save him he passed away. Dan Christidis was a close friend of mine,” Mr Dissanayake wrote.
“He was my doctor during my shoulder surgery many years back. He was a member of my netball team for years. With his height he was my champion. Very witty. Always making everyone laugh. I will miss you terribly.”
Urologic oncologist Peter Black said it was awful and unbelievable to hear his friend had died.
“I had the great pleasure of getting to know Dan through the @SIU_urology (Société Internationale d’Urologie) and was so impressed with his passion for urology, his good humour and his strong spirit,” he said in an online tribute.
“He will be sorely missed by the urologic community.”
Training psychiatrist Marc Jurblum said he was utterly devastated to lose his dear friend.
“Since day 1 of medschool I saw in you a powerhouse of love and smarts, #medicine and all those you touched are less for your absence,” he wrote online.
“Thankful for the last few days, already so dearly missed.”
The Australian Young Urology Researchers Organisation said Mr Christidis would be deeply missed.
“A true leader, a dear friend and a great doctor. Gone too soon!,” the organisation wrote.
The attack follows two other near-fatal attacks in September. Twelve-year-old Hannah Papps and 46-year-old Justine Barwick continue to recover from terrible injuries, their attacks happening just 24 hours apart just weeks ago.
It comes as the State Government rejects calls for shark control measures in the Whitsundays – one of the only drumline blackspots on the Queensland coast – instead opting for more warning signs and urging people not to swim in Cid Harbour.
Out of almost 400 drumlines along the coast, none are in the Whitsundays.
The Palaszczuk Government insists the local tourism industry, local council and fisheries experts do not want drumlines, but Whitsunday LNPMP Jason Costigan called on the state government to urgently reconsider permanent controls.
“I think we’re flirting with danger when you compare us to other communities, from Ellis Beach north of Cairns, down to Townsville, which is peppered with drum lines and nets and so forth, around Magnetic Island, the northern beaches of Mackay and you go all the way down to the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast, and we’ve got nothing in the Whitsundays - it’s madness,” he told ABC radio yesterday.
Rescuers described the “gruesome” and “bloody” scene that confronted them as they arrived to find two of Dr Christidis’ travelling companions – also doctors – frantically trying to save his life.
Dr Christidis was one of 10 medical professionals on board a 12m yacht on what should have
been a five day sailing holiday around the Whitsunday Islands.
Instead, on the first night of their travels, while anchored in Cid Harbour, a shark attacked after Dr Christidis jumped from a stand up paddle board he was sharing with a woman from the yacht.
“It was a very horrible situation for those people to confront and deal with,” Inspector Steve O’Connell said.
“They did everything imaginable to try and save the man.
“It’s just the injuries were so severe.”
Insp O’Connell said a shark was sighted in the water but they did not know what species it was.
He said it was a group of French tourists on a nearby boat who got to the couple first, using a tender to speed towards them and pull them from the water.
“There was a nearby vessel a bit closer than the yacht the victim had come from,” Insp O’Connell said.
“It was about 30m away.”
Insp O’Connell said there were at least two doctors on board the yacht who immediately began CPR. An emergency nurse was able to give him oxygen but he suffered severe blood loss.
“The Queensland Ambulance Service and the helicopter arrived, however, by the time the helicopter arrived on scene, the man had lost a substantial amount of blood and had commenced cardiac arrest,” he said.
“CPR was ongoing for a very long time and every solid effort was made to try and save that man’s life.
“Once he was stabilised, he was airlifted by the helicopter to Mackay Base Hospital but his injuries and his reaction to those injuries was so severe that unfortunately he has not survived long after his arrival.”
RACQ CQ Rescue chopper crewman Ben McCauley, who responded to all three shark attacks, said they got the call at 5.45pm.
“He had the best care that he was going to get there in the boat,” he said.
“When we arrived on to the boat they were doing CPR. He was unconscious, unresponsive.”
Police will remain in Cid Harbour for the coming days to warn any incoming sailors to stay out of the water.
Fisheries Minister Mark Furner said swimmers should stay out of the water at Cid Harbour.
“We can’t be clearer – don’t swim in Cid Harbour,” he said.
“Drumlines or not, no one should swim in Cid Harbour.
“As local charter operators have advised, Cid Harbour is primarily a site for mooring.
“The disposal of food scraps can attract sharks and that means no one should swim in Cid Harbour under any circumstances.”
General manager Sharon McNally said they were “shocked and saddened” by Dr Christidis’ death.
“On behalf of everyone at Cumberland Charter Yachts, I offer my deepest sympathies to the man’s family and friends at this tragic time.
“Members of staff from CCY were involved in the response. I am grateful for the remarkable and rapid actions of the crew on board, the medical unit from the RACQ Rescue Helicopter, other emergency services and members of the public who worked to try and save the man’s life.”
The group chartered the vessel from Airlie Beach-based Cumberland Charter Yachts. The organisation in recent weeks had been warning sailors not to swim in Cid Harbour because of recent shark activity.
Tasmanian woman Justine Barwick, who was attacked by a shark in Cid Harbour in September, said she was shocked to hear of yet another attack.
“I feel devastated for the family and friends of this young man, I know that he would have received the best of care available from the Queensland Health Service, including RACQ CQ Rescue helicopter crew and my heart goes out to all involved. This is a terrible tragedy,” she said.
Dr Christidis, a urologist, has spoken at international medical conferences, including a recent event in South Korea. He has dozens of published research papers in his specialist field. He was based at the Austin Hospital.
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