Horror in our water: how Cid Harbour shark attacks unfolded

The nation was fixated on the Whitsundays as news broke three people had been attacked by sharks in the idyllic location- news of another attack has broken

RACQ CQ Rescue, during an airlift of a child with a life threatening injury from a shark bite, Cid Harbour, Whitsundays, it was the second at Cid Harbour in just 24 hours - Must Credit - RACQ CQ Rescue

LAST year the nation was shocked when news first broke a woman was fighting for her life after a shark attack in the idyllic Whitsundays.

Eyes remained fixed on the region as it was revealed, less than 24 hours later, that a young girl had been mauled in the same location.

Then, just a few months later a 33-year-old doctor lost his life in the blue waters of Cid Harbour. 

RACQ CQ Rescue Crew Officer Ben McCauley, who played a pivotal role in both rescues, said the tasks had been "absolutely horrific".

His actions as a first responder to the shark attacks earned him a place in the Courier Mail's Most Inspirational People in Queensland list last year.

Ben McCauley has been a rescue crewman on the CQ rescue helicopter for all three shark attacks at Cid Harbour.

How it played out:

September 19, 2018

5:15pm: A RACQ CQ Rescue team is in middle of a beacon search at Proserpine when the team receives an emergency call about a shark attack near Hamilton Island. People close to 46-year-old Justine Barwick provide lifesaving first aid before off-duty Mackay emergency doctor Dr John Hadok, who is holidaying in a nearby boat, helps stabilise Ms Barwick.

5:45pm: CQ Rescue crew officer Ben McCauley is lowered from the chopper into Cid Harbour waters. He works to winch Ms Barwick from a dingy in open water. With Ms Barwick on board the helicopter crew heads to Proserpine Airport to refuel. Here Ms Barwick is given blood and pain relief.

8pm: The chopper lands at Mackay Base Hospital and Ms Barwick goes into emergency treatment.

Whitsunday Island, 07 Nov 18, Cid Harbour, site of 3 shark attacks.Beach in Cid Harbour.Photo : Daryl Wright.

September 20, 2018:

1:45pm: Less than 24 hours after a woman was rushed to hospital, news a young girl has been attacked by a shark at the same location breaks. A RACQ CQ Rescue chopper is deployed from Mackay. Hannah Papps, 12, was sailing on a chartered yacht with her family when she was bitten.

2pm: A Hamilton Island-based paramedic is rushed to the scene and administers life-saving first aid.

A rescue chopper lands on the beach at Whitsunday Island.

4pm: Paramedics confirm they are treating a young girl. Hannah is taken to the Mackay Base Hospital.

September 21 2018:

10.20am: A spokeswoman for the Royal Flying Doctor Service confirms Hannah will be flown Brisbane for further treatment. She is in a critical condition.

5pm: Hannah's parents release a statement saying she is in a critical but stable condition.

Baited drumlines are installed and catch six large sharks in the area.  

November 5, 2018:

A Melbourne based doctor is swimming in the water at Cid Harbour, not far from where Hannah Papps and Justine Barwick were attacked. He was visiting the region on a charter boat with friends. 

5:30pm: Dr Daniel Christidis was paddle boarding with a female friend. The pair were reportedly taking turns with the attack attack happening when he got off the board.

 

Cid Harbour shark attack victim Dan Christidis

5:53pm: The Queensland Ambulance Service confirms a reported shark attack on its Twitter feed. 

6.28pm: RACQ CQ Rescue is tasked to the rescue. 

7pm: QAS confirms the man has sustained "significant" injuries in a shark attack at Cid Harbour. They report the "tourist" was aged in his 30s was bitten on his leg and wrist in the attack.

8pm: An RACQ CQ Rescue helicopter arrives at Mackay Base Hospital with Daniel Christidis. The chopper team fought against fading light to complete the "complex retrieval scenario". Rescue crewman Ben McCauley describes the victim's injuries as "absolutely horrific" saying he'd suffered significant blood loss as well as cardiac arrest. 

November 6, 2018: 

1.30am: Police confirm Daniel Christidis had died from his injuries in hospital after being resuscitated twice during his rescue.

January 10, 2019: 

A young girl from Sydney is rushed to hospital after a reported marine animal attack on Hamilton Island. 

The Queensland Ambulance Service reported the girl and her grandma, a woman in her 60s, were treated after they were bitten by a shark in shallow water.

6pm: Despite initial reports the pair were bitten by a shark peak tourism bodies claimed the bite was actually from a toad fish more than 1m long. In a statement, the family maintained they saw a shark.