Woman in 50s bitten by shark off the coast of Mackay in Central Qld

A woman has been bitten by a shark some 10 hours off the east Australian coast – with a navy vessel offering emergency assistance.

A woman has been mauled by a shark off the coast of Central Queensland, requiring emergency assistance from a navy vessel in the area.

Emergency services were first alerted to the attack at 4.30pm on Wednesday after the woman, in her 50s, was bitten on the leg about 10 hours off the coast of Mackay.

A Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) spokesman said the woman was rescued by HMAS Warramunga when navy personnel were alerted to the emergency call.

QAS said the woman was bitten by a shark 10 hours off the coast of Mackay, in Central Queensland, on Wednesday afternoon. Picture: Supplied

She sustained lacerations to her lower leg and was treated on the vessel before arriving on shore.

QAS said the woman was then taken to Mackay Base Hospital in a stable condition.

It is not known what species of shark attacked the woman.

The woman was taken to Mackay Base Hospital in a stable condition. Picture: Supplied / Google Maps

The attack follows a similar shark attack at Bargara Beach, near Bundaberg, earlier this year.

A 13-year-old girl was treated for minor, non-life threatening puncture wounds to her upper back and lower thigh after a shark bit her in the water.

She was treated at a local surf lifesaving club before being taken to hospital.

Late last year, a boy, 14, was killed in a shark attack near Ethel Beach, close to Innes National Park on South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula.

The boy was 30-40m offshore when he was mauled.

Originally published as Woman in 50s bitten by shark off the coast of Mackay in Central Qld