Hook Island shark attack: Man bitten in Hook Passage

Despite serious cuts to his leg, a Whitsunday island shark attack victim has a ‘philosophical’ outlook on his narrow escape from death.

Despite serious cuts to his leg, a Whitsunday island shark attack victim has a “philosophical” outlook on his narrow escape from death.

The 34-year-old man was swimming off Hook Island in the Whitsundays when a shark attacked him as he attempted to climb back into a private boat at 6.40pm on Friday.

The man told emergency services he did not see the shark, but felt a “bump” on his leg moments before he felt the jaw closing on his leg.

Acting Clinical Support Officer Peter Gleeson said the man was very lucky, escaping with “multiple bites to the lower left leg” which caused deep cuts.

The Queensland Ambulance officer said the man was able to get himself onto the boat, where the quick action of bystanders was critical in stabilising him and getting him to help.

He said the crew applied first aid to stop the bleeding as they drove him 30 minutes to Hamilton Island where paramedics and Marina medical staff were able to treat him while they awaited a CQ Rescue helicopter.

Mr Gleeson said despite his injuries the man remained positive during his trip in the chopper after 8pm.

“The patient was in good spirits, he was fairly philosophical about it,” Mr Gleeson said.

“He appreciates the nature of this event, it's one of those things that happen from time to time.’’

Mr Gleeson said the man was taken in a stable condition and was now in Mackay Base Hospital.

The size and type of the shark is still unknown, but Mr Gleeson said analysis of the injury would likely give more information about the animal.

Mr Gleeson said while shark attacks are “an extremely rare occurrence”, the injury itself was relatively routine.

“Although it doesn’t usually come from a shark bite,” he said.

“There wasn’t any serious bleeding at any stage to the patient, so there was minimal amount of blood loss.”

The incident is a blow to a tourism industry trying to rebuild and reinvent itself in the wake of Covid-19, and a baptism of fire for new Tourism Whitsunday CEO Rick Hamilton who has been in the role barely a month.

A 34-year-old man is flown from Hamilton Island after he was bitten by a shark in Hook Passage near Saba Bay at Hook Island about 6.40pm Friday, October 15, 2021. He was flown from Hamilton Island to Mackay Base Hospital in a stable condition with lacerations to his left leg. Picture: Tara Miko

Mr Hamilton said his organisation was waiting to receive all the relevant information before making an official statement.

“We’re certainly very, very happy to hear that the person is recovering in hospital when it could’ve been more serious,” he said.

Mayor Andrew Willcox emphasised shark attacks were “extremely rare” in the Whitsundays, which received about a million visitors to its marine park annually.

He hoped the incident would not deter people from enjoying the variety of land and water-based activities on offer in the region, but urged anyone heading out on the ocean to be aware of the risks.

“It’s fantastic to have a swim in the Coral Sea and we all do it and there are animals in the sea - it’s their domain - and that’s probably what makes it so special.

“We do try and put the messages out there to avoid dawn and dusk swimming and not to be swimming in cloudy water.”

Cr Willcox encouraged everyone making use of the marine park to download the SharkSmart smartphone app.

He said questions around shark monitoring and population control were “outside [his] jurisdiction” and should be referred to the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.

A Mackay Hospital and Health Service spokeswoman said the man remained in a stable condition in Mackay Base Hospital.

Hook Passage, where the man was bitten, is the same area where an English tourist had his foot bitten off in a shark attack in 2019. That man’s friend was also seriously injured in the attack.