Teenagers injured after Ocean Grove shark bite

A teenager who fought off a shark after it bit him and his friend while they were swimming at Ocean Grove has spoken about the terrifying ordeal.

An injured swimmer is loaded into an ambulance after being bitten y a shark at Ocean Grove. Picture: Peter Hobbs/Facebook

A teenager who fought off a shark has recounted his heroic efforts after he and a friend were set upon by a suspected bronze whaler.

Wearing bandages around his waist Jack Shaw, 15, returned to school on Tuesday less than 24 hours after he was attacked at an Ocean Grove beach on Monday evening.

He was swimming with friend Tiarna, also 15, in neck-deep water when they were attacked.

“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 teen suffered a centimetre-deep gash and bite marks to his back while his friend suffered a cut to her hand and a wound to her leg.

“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.”

Jack said he thought “get the shark, get it off, get out of the water”.

The pair made it to shore where they were helped by off-duty lifeguards and a family.

Ocean Grove shark bite victim Jack Shaw. Picture: Channel 9

Jack was released from Geelong Hospital on Monday evening while Tiarna is still recovering after having surgery on Tuesday.

The two teenagers were saved by beachgoers about 7.20pm on Monday evening after they screamed for help.

Beachgoers and off-duty lifesavers paddled to the pair to carry them to shore.

The Herald Sun understands the teenagers were swimming 200m from the beach when they were bitten.

The Victorian Fisheries Authority on Tuesday afternoon revealed that its officers were “confident” the shark involved was a bronze whaler, measuring approximately 2.5m.

The 15-year-old suffered a centimetre-deep gash and to his back as a result. Picture: Channel 9

According to the VFA, the species is known to inhabit the waters in the area but is not often aggressive nor implicated in attacks.

Ocean Grove Beach has now reopened to the public, after swimmers and surfers were barred from the water for most of Tuesday.

“Life Saving Victoria searched the area with both a drone and helicopter and no sharks were detected in the area,” a VFA spokeswoman said.

Peter and Diane Hobbs were enjoying the surf with their kids when they noticed the commotion in the water.

“We just initially thought (the teenagers) were playing and then before long, they started yelling out that they had been bitten by a shark,” Mr Hobbs told Today.

Bystanders rushed to help two teenagers who were bitten by a shark at Ocean Grove. Picture: Facebook/Peter Hobbs

Authorities are ‘confident’ the shark involved was a bronze whaler, measuring 2.5m.

“We were still in a state of disbelief.

“We just went into action stations.”

Ms Hobbs, a former trauma nurse, tourniqueted the girl’s leg to stop the “large bite mark” from bleeding.

“She had a large bite mark to her right lower leg, below (the) knee and one to her right hand as well and (he) had one to his back as well,” she said.

The former trauma nurse also commended the efforts of the community.

“I think this was a huge example of where the community just rallies around and just does it. They just went into another gear.”

The husband and wife said the teenagers remained calm, with the boy even having a “sense of humour”.

Mr Hobbs praised their son, James, who was one of the first in the water to notice the distressed teenagers and paddle to them.

An Ambulance Victoria spokeswoman said the girl suffered lower body injuries, while the boy suffered minor injuries.

The popular beach attracts many swimmers and surfers in summer. Picture: Alan Barber

They were taken to Geelong hospital in a stable condition, with the boy discharged overnight.

While the risk of a shark bite is extremely low, beachgoers have been reminded to be mindful of sharks when entering the water at a beach.

Beachgoers have also been reminded to always swim with a friend and keep away from large schools of fish, seals or other wildlife as these can attract sharks.

All shark sightings of concern should be reported to the Police Assistance line on 131 444.