Whitsundays shark victim identified as Melbourne girl

RESCUERS have revealed the Melbourne schoolgirl shark attack victim Hannah Papps gave them a smile and a thumbs-up as she was loaded into a rescue helicopter, in an extraordinary show of strength.

Hannah Papps is treated after the shark attack in the Whitsundays. Picture: RACQ Rescue/AAP

RESCUERS have revealed the Melbourne schoolgirl shark attack victim Hannah Papps gave them a smile and a thumbs-up as she was loaded into a rescue helicopter, in an extraordinary show of strength.

The “brave” 12-year-old girl who on Thursday became the second Whitsundays shark attack victim in 24 hours was last night fighting for life as authorities set baited drum lines in an effort to catch any rogue animals in the popular tourist spot.

EXPERTS SAY TWO ATTACKS IN SAME AREA VERY RARE

FOOTAGE OF WHITSUNDAYS SHARK ATTACK RESCUE

Her rescuers described how she smiled and gave them a thumbs-up as she was loaded into a helicopter at a remote beach on Whitsunday Island, north of Hamilton Island.

Hannah Papps amazed rescuers with her bravery.

Hannah was yesterday flown from Mackay to the Queensland Children’s Hospital by the Royal Flying Doctor Service after local hospital staff worked through the night to stabilise her. She was accompanied by her engineer father, David.

Rescuers said the schoolgirl was “brave” and “stoic”, despite horrific leg injuries that have left her in a critical condition.

Her mother, who had been away in New Zealand, made a mercy dash to Brisbane following Thursday’s attack.

“We would like to thank everyone who has helped and cared for Hannah, including the police, emergency services and the hospital teams,” a statement from her parents read.

“As at 5pm, Friday, 21 September, Hannah is in a critical but stable condition.

Hannah Papps is treated after the shark attack in the Whitsundays. Picture: RACQ Rescue/AAP

“We ask that everyone please respect our family’s privacy during this very difficult time so we can focus our energies on Hannah’s recovery.”

Hannah, on holidays with her father and sister from Melbourne, was attacked in Cid Harbour off Whitsunday Island, the same place as Tasmanian tourist Justine Barwick, who was mauled as she swam off the back of her yacht.

A radio call was broadcast after Ms Barwick, 46, was attacked, calling for vessels in the area to help. Ms Barwick was yesterday in intensive care in a stable condition with near-identical leg injuries. It was so unusual to have two shark attacks in the same location that rescue crews called to help Hannah initially thought the information was incorrect.

Shark attack victim Justine Barwick from Tasmania was flown to Brisbane after being attacked by a shark in the Whitsundays. Picture: AAP

RACQ Central Queensland helicopter crewman Ben McCauley, who was involved in both rescues, said both Hannah and Ms Barwick were brave.

“I’d describe them as strong willed,” he said. “They wanted to survive. You could see that they wanted to live. They were doing everything they can to stay with us, to keep alert, answering our questions.”

Three baited drum lines were yesterday installed at the popular Cid Harbour, with Agriculture Minister Mark Furner saying they were a “temporary measure”.

“We’re deploying them to protect human life,” he said.

“It would be very difficult to identify one particular shark but we know drum lines work.”

Mr Furner claimed an extra $2.1 million had been allocated to the state’s shark control program in this year’s budget.

A contractor would check the lines each day to see if any sharks had been caught.

Swimmers were also warned to stay out of the water. Locals reported seeing a lot of shark activity in the area in recent weeks.

Brisbane man Keith Grundy is holidaying with family in the Whitsundays and tangled with a shark while fishing in Cid Harbour about a week ago.

He said the 2.5m shark tried to steal a fish he was reeling in.

“It came straight under the boat. I’d put money on it was the same shark,” he said.

He said he was still in the harbour when Hannah was attacked. “That happening in the middle of the day really scared the s--t out of us,” he said.