Woman suffers lower-body injuries in shark attack near Cairns
A 29-year-old woman who suffered significant injuries and blood loss in a shark attack near Cairns declared with a smile and wave that she “still love sharks, sharks are beautiful” as she was taken to a waiting ambulance. WATCH THE VIDEO
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A WOMAN who suffered significant leg injuries in a shark attack shouted with a smile that “she still loves sharks” as she arrived in Cairns on a rescue helicopter.
The 29-year-old woman is also heard saying “sharks are beautiful” as she waves at news crews while wheeled on a stretcher by paramedics to a waiting ambulance.
Queensland Ambulance Service Flight Critical Care paramedic Terry Cummings confirmed the woman, 29, was attacked by a shark around midday today, despite management at the Fitzroy Island Resort denying the injury was a result of a shark attack.
She was swimming near Welcome Bay off a private boat when she was bitten.
Mr Cummings said paramedics took over treatment from doctors who applied a tourniquet to limit bleeding.
“As you would expect from a shark bite to the lower leg there was a bit of blood loss, but the first responders on scene happened to be doctors so they applied a tourniquet on to limit any bleeding,” he said.
“She ended up with a possible fracture of her left ankle and some lacerations from the shark bite.”
The woman, who is creating a shark documentary, was relaxing in the water on her day off.
Mr Cummings said the woman had only sighted the shark for a couple of seconds, and was unable to identify it.
She is in hospital receiving treatment, however is said to be “smiling” and “doing great.”
Fitzroy Island Resort CEO Glen Macdonald earlier told The Courier-Mail that the woman treated had been laughing with staff and he was not aware there had been a shark attack at the island.
“Our staff treated her for minor injuries on her leg and doctors staying on the island assisted,” said Mr Macdonald.
“We called the Queensland Ambulance helicopter which we do for any injuries on the island.
“She was laughing with staff and when questioned said she did not know what had caused the injury.
“Visitor safety is our number one priority and we are grateful that she is high spirits.
“I am not aware of there ever being a reported injury from a shark at Fitzroy Island.”
It is the third shark attack off the east coast of Australia in the past nine days.
Sunshine Coast man Matthew Tratt was killed when he was attacked by a shark while spear fishing off Indian Head on Fraser Island on Saturday, July 4.
A week later, Mani Hart-Deville, 15, was fatally mauled by a shark while surfing at Wooli Beach off the NSW north coast.