GoFundMe set up for Tasmanian boy Archie Blake, who was mauled by a shark in Western Australia
The isolated Western Australia beach where a Hobart boy was mauled by a shark, leaving him with lacerations to his leg and teeth marks on his femur has been reopened, two days after the attack. LATEST >
Tasmania
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The isolated beach where a Hobart boy was mauled by a shark, leaving him with lacerations to his leg and teeth marks on his bone has been reopened, two days after the attack.
Archie Blake, 11, was snorkelling with his mother at a beach off the coast of Western Australia, 1300km north of Perth – near the Kurrajong Campground – when he was attacked.
The shark bit his left leg and left the young boy with muscle damage, and there was evidence of teeth marks on his femur.
He was flown by the Royal Flying Doctor Service to a hospital in Perth with his father, Kieren Blake, where he underwent surgery on Sunday morning.
It is likely Archie will need additional surgery.
The beaches between Pilgramunna and Bloodwood creek in the Cape Range National Park near Exmouth were reopened on Monday at 10am Western Australia time.
A Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) spokesman said additional caution to those swimming in the Cape Range National park area was recommended.
The spokesman said while DPIRD’s shark response unit was continuing enquiries into the incident, the species and size of shark involved was not yet known.
Hobart boy mauled by shark in remote waters
A young Tasmanian boy has been left hospitalised after he was mauled by a shark off the coast of Western Australia on the family holiday of a lifetime.
At about 3pm on Saturday, Archie Blake, 11, was snorkelling 50 metres off the coast near the Kurrajong campsite 1300km north of Perth, with his mother Hazel when he was attacked by a shark.
The attack left Archie with “serious lacerations” to his left leg, and he was taken by the Royal Flying Doctor Service to hospital in Perth.
And while Archie went through one round of surgery on Sunday, he is expected to require ongoing surgeries.
Archie suffered muscle damage, and there was evidence of teeth marks on his femur.
The shocking incident led Hobart councillor Ryan Posselt to set up a GoFundMe to raise money for the Blake family to go towards any accommodation, travel logistics, or any rehab that Archie may need for his recovery.
The Blake family, Mr Posselt said, had been planning this “trip of a lifetime” for years and will now likely be stuck in Western Australia for weeks.
“The intent of the fundraiser is to take some of the financial burden off them,” Mr Posselt said.
Archie’s father, Kieren, is a paramedic and wife, Hazel, is a teacher at South Hobart Primary School.
The family had been on the road travelling with their four children, all primary school aged, when the incident happened.
Mr Posselt said the Blake family were “salt of the earth humans” and “the most lovely people”.
“Kieren will do anything for you and Hazel will do the same thing,” he said.
He said he had seen the Hobart medical community rally in support for Archie by making donations, and hoped the rest of the community would follow suit.
To donate, go to: https://bit.ly/4254hpX
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