Professional fisherwoman Juanita Davey left battered and bloodied in battle with bull shark while mackerel fishing

NOT many people can say they’ve survived a tug of war with a 3.7m bull shark but professional fisherwoman Juanita Davey has lived to tell the tale — although she has been left battered and bloodied

NOT many people can say they’ve survived a tug of war with a 3.7m bull shark but professional fisherwoman Juanita Davey has lived to tell the tale — although she has been left battered and bloodied.

Ms Davey, who runs tours with Wildcard Luxury Cruises, was mackerel fishing near Gove on Saturday when the battle went down.

Professional fisherwoman Juanita Davey pictured at Royal Darwin Hospital after her battle with a 3.7m bull shark. Picture: Keri Megelus

“I was catching a few Spanish mackerel out of the dory and I had a 20kg mackerel on the line,” she said.

“A 10-12 foot (3-3.7m) bull shark decided it needed it a lot more than I did and it came first.”

Ms Davey, 51, said the shark took the fish and got caught up in her line in the process.

“I’d already started wrapping the trace wire which is the usual way of pulling a fish in,” she said.

“The shark took the fish and it got hooked up and being quite a large shark it’s nearly pulled me over the boat.”

TOP STORIES

• TWO people allegedly attacked by man with hammer

• DARWIN light exhibition ‘expected’ to draw 50,000 to Top End

• PROPERTY group returns to Darwin to shop

• CLP opts to widen race for Senate

• BEST of the best in NT Motorsport

The force of the shark’s run with the line tore through both gloves Ms Davey was wearing.

“It’s taken all the flesh, skin, and everything back to the bone — took off about a third of my hand,” she said.

“It’s also pulverised all the bones in my hand.”

Ms Davey received initial first aid treatment on board the boat, before she was taken by a speed boat to meet CareFlight’s clinical team.

IN OTHER NEWS

In a helicopter, Ms Davey was taken to Royal Darwin Hospital via Maningrida for fuel, making it a round trip of 740 nautical miles, or 1372km.

Her husband Bruce Davey thanked the great work of staff at CareFlight, RDH and St John Ambulance NT for their assistance.

It was a busy weekend for CareFlight, with emergency responders attending 38 incidents in just two days — double their usual workload.