Ulverstone beach: Sommer Kubank healing from bite after swimming at Tasmanian beach

Young Sommer Kubank may be on the mend after suffering a suspected shark bite on a Tassie beach, but the incident has left more than just a physical scar. WARNING: GRAPHIC >

THE teenager bitten by what her parents and hospital staff think was a shark at an Ulverstone beach on Sunday is home and healing, but still frightened by the incident.

While no shark was seen at Buttons Beach on the day, a group of female surfers from nearby Turners Beach reported seeing a shark there a day earlier.

After the incident, Tasmania Police would only say they thought “a marine mammal” caused the girl’s injuries.

Sommer Kubank, 13, who lives near the beach, was in the water with her friend on Sunday afternoon when she felt something swim up near her and then, what she said felt like skin on her leg.

Then she felt extreme pain.

Sommer Kubank in hospital

Sommer Kubank's wound

“I felt something grab on to me and then brush past me, It felt like skin,” Sommer said.

“Then I saw lots of blood and felt intense pain. I feel like it must have been a shark. It had very sharp teeth.

“I don’t think I will be going back in the water for a while.”

Sommer’s mother Sarah heard her daughter’s screams from the family’s house nearby.

“She was screaming so loud. Even the neighbour heard it. My husband was down on the beach with her and could see blood in the water and ran in to grab her,” Sarah said.

Sommer Kubank 13 who suffered a severe bite wound while swimming at Ulverstone. Picture: supplied

“I ran down to the beach and we were concentrating on her and her injuries, not looking in the water to see what it might have been.”

Sommer was admitted to hospital with deep puncture wounds on her bottom.

She has another wound on the front of her body, which was small but deeper.

“We really don’t think it was a seal. The ambulance officers thought it could have been a shark, as did the doctor who saw her at the hospital.

“She is healing. She got stitches and is spending a lot of time on her belly as she heals. “

The family has been swimming at the beach for 15 years and have never experienced anything like this before.