Sydney Harbour shark attack: Lauren O’Neill stable after being bitten by bull shark in Elizabeth Bay

A leading shark expert has warned swimmers to stay out of Sydney Harbour waters in the wake of the terrifying attack on eastern suburbs woman Lauren O’Neill.

The heroes who helped swimmer Lauren O’Neill survive a terrifying Sydney Harbour shark attack told on Tuesday how she was pulled from the water with a pool of dark blood behind her.

Elizabeth Bay resident Michael Porter said Lauren was “propped up” on a ladder and her leg was limp and completely open.

“I sprinted outside and called triple-0,” Mr Porter, who remained at her side with another neighbour, said.

“It was a completely surreal experience.”

Elizabeth Bay shark attack victim Lauren O'Neill.

Neighbours rushed to help shark attack victim Lauren O’Neill on Monday evening. Picture: Sky News

He credited the “heroic” effort of fellow neighbour Fiona, a veterinarian who bandaged Lauren’s wounds.

“Fiona is an absolute hero I believe she saved her life,” he said.

“Everyone worked together to make sure she was all right. She was extremely brave. It’s incredible how lucid Lauren was throughout the whole thing.”

Lauren suffered serious leg injuries. Picture: On Scene Bondi

Lauren was bitten by a bull shark in the harbour. Picture: On Scene Bondi

Mr Porter described Lauren’s wounds as “quite graphic.”

“From the knee down was completely open.”

Police, multiple ambulances and a rescue helicopter raced to a property on Billyard Ave, Elizabeth Bay about 7.45pm after Lauren was pulled from the water at a private jetty.

Neighbours said Lauren was regularly seen swimming in the area, often around boats moored more than fifty metres out from the shore.

‘It’s incredible how lucid Lauren was.” said witness Michael Porter. Picture: Richard Dobson

Lauren O’Neill was rushed to hospital in a critical condition. Picture: On Scene Bondi

She lives in an apartment on Billyard avenue that shares an ocean pool equipped with a shark net.

At the time she was heard calling for help, Lauren had been in the water outside the netted pool.

She was rushed to St Vincent’s Hospital suffering significant blood loss and in state of shock. Hospital staff worked throughout the night to stabilise her condition.

“She remains at St Vincent’s Hospital in a stable condition in intensive care,” a hospital spokesman said on Tuesday.

Other witnesses including Georgia, whose veterinarian partner was assisting in the emergency, managed to keep the woman alive until paramedics arrived.

“We heard a shout … she swam up to a boat, but on the way back she got bitten by a bull shark,” Georgia said.

“We ran out, my wife’s a vet, she basically bandaged it up … bones broken, it’s pretty hectic actually.”

“We got some bandages, we kept her warm, my wife bandaged her up to stop the bleeding.”

Georgia said.

“She was in a lot of shock, so am I,” she said.

“If she’d got bitten (further into the water) she wouldn’t have survived.”

The witness Georgia, described how bystanders helped save Lauren. Picture: On Scene Bondi

Lauren O’Neill is in a stable condition in hospital after she was attacked by a shark in Elizabeth Bay. Picture: OnScene Bondi

NSW Ambulance Acting Inspector Brett Simpson said multiple intensive care paramedic crews and a rescue helicopter carrying blood from Bankstown Hospital arrived on the scene to treat the woman.

“On arrival our paramedics found her on a private wharf with significant lower limb injuries and a large amount of blood loss,” Insp Simpson said.

“She was taken in a serious but stable condition to St Vincents Hospital.”

The site of the shark attack. Picture: Facebook/Leeann Gardner

It occurred near a private jetty off Sydney Harbour at Elizabeth Bay. Picture: Facebook/Leeann Gardner

Insp Simpson praised bystanders for their quick thinking.

“We believe the young lady was swimming off a private wharf and was assisted by bystanders... they did an exceptional job looking after this young lady, as did our paramedics by stabilising her.”

NSW Police also attended and assisted paramedics in treating the woman at the scene, with Marine Command conducting patrols of the water off the jetty to try and find the animal responsible.

Sydney’s last shark attack was almost two years ago, when experienced diver and ocean-lover Simon Nellist was mauled to death by a great white shark as he trained for a charity ocean swim in Little Bay.

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