Mum praises ‘amazingly brave’ teenage daughter after Ocean Grove shark attack
A teenage girl bitten by a shark at Ocean Grove this weekend is still recovering in hospital, with a proud family member thanking the community for their support.
Geelong
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The mother of a teenage shark attack victim has described the frightening incident as “surreal”.
Corrie Athanasiou thanked the community for rallying around her 15-year-old daughter Tiana after she was bitten by a bronze whaler shark while swimming with friend Jack Shaw at Ocean Grove on Monday.
“We’re hoping to come home within the next day or so fingers crossed,” Ms Athanasiou wrote on social media.
“The whole thing is so surreal, I still can’t believe my baby girl got bitten by a shark, but I’m grateful she’s going to be OK and that she’s got so much love and support around her.”
Ms Athanasiou said surgery on her daughter’s calf and hand had gone “really well”.
“It was long and the recovery is going to take some time but considering the circumstances, the prognosis is really good and she is one very lucky girl to have been put back together and can walk away from this in one piece with an incredible story to tell.”
Ms Athanasiou said Tiana was still her “happy little self”.
“I’m so incredibly proud of how brave she’s been,” she wrote.
“I’m blown away by how she’s handled such a traumatic experience.
“Her strength, bravery and positive outlook has made it so much easier for us as a family to stay strong.”
Ms Athanasiou also paid tribute to Jack who sustained injuries to his back during attack.
She said he was one of the “bravest, most selfless kids I’ve ever met”.
“As Tiana’s mum I can’t express how grateful I am to you for not only trying to protect Tiana during the attack, but the support you’ve shown her since the attack is really beautiful.
“You’ve helped her more than you know.
“Thank you everyone for all your love and support.”
EARLIER
The mother of one of two teenager shark attack victims at Ocean Grove has credited the quick actions of a good Samaritan surfer for saving her daughter’s leg.
Tiana Athanasiou, 15, was recovering from surgery on Tuesday night after a bronze whaler shark attacked her and her friend Jack Shaw as they swam about dusk on Monday.
Mum Corrie Athanasiou told the Geelong Advertiser her daughter was in good spirits after surgeons worked hard to close the “gaping wound” in her calf and repair damage to her hand.
She said her daughter was extremely brave and had impressed everyone with her maturity.
“She’s doing well and has been amazingly brave considering the trauma and injuries,” she said.
Ms Athanasiou said doctors believed Tiana’s leg could have been saved by a surfer who paddled her daughter to safety.
“He went over and put her on his board and tied his surf board strap around her leg as a tourniquet,” Ms Athanasiou said.
“The surgeon said that could have saved her leg … they were very lucky.”
Ms Athanasiou said the surfer was “an incredible guy” and the “most humble person”.
“I can’t express how grateful I am to the amazing people who selflessly helped her and her friend to shore and looked after her until the paramedics arrived,” she wrote on social media.
Ms Athanasiou also thanked Jack for looking after her daughter during such a frightening situation.
“He was ridiculously brave because he tried to protect her from the shark,” she said.
Tiana is expected to make a full recovery but will require some rehabilitation for her injuries.
Jack, who was released from hospital on Monday night, returned to school on Tuesday with bandages around his waist.
“I turned around, it got me on the back and then I said, ‘swim!’ and tried as fast as we could to get back into shore,” Jack told Nine News.
The 15-year-old suffered a centimetre-deep gash and bite marks to his back.
“She looked at it and it was a shark,” Jack said.
“So I did my best to get it off there, so I was smacking at it, trying to get it off.”
Peter Hobbs, who was out surfing with his family, said he “never imagined” a shark attack would happen at Ocean Grove Beach.
Mr Hobbs was out in the water with his wife and two children about 7.30pm when he heard the two teens start to yell.
“This guy that was coming to surf paddled out as quickly as they could and got them,” Mr Hobbs said.
“They came over and we helped carry her up to the beach.”
Mrs Hobbs, who is a former nurse, helped give the teens first aid before paramedics arrived.
The beach remained closed for much of Tuesday as authorities scoured the area for any signs of the shark.
“Fisheries Officers are confident the shark involved was a bronze whaler, approximately 2.5m long,” a Victorian Fisheries Association spokeswoman said.
“This species is known to inhabit the waters in the area.
“Ocean Grove Beach was closed after the attack and Fisheries Officers were on the scene (Tuesday) morning.
“Life Saving Victoria searched the area with both a drone and helicopter and no sharks were detected in the area. The beach has now been opened.”
Life Saving Victoria state agency commander Kane Treloar commended the actions of rescuers – including three off-duty lifesavers.
“We’re extremely thankful for the quick-thinking actions of our off-duty members, who were able to provide first-aid support and comfort to the patients until paramedics arrived,” he said.
“We’d also like to extend these thanks to the other bystanders who assisted last night, who are lifesavers in their own right.”
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