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Australia shark attack: Man suffers 'eight-hour' ordeal | Australia shark attack: Man suffers 'eight-hour' ordeal |
(35 minutes later) | |
An Australian diver who was mauled by a bull shark before being rescued and taken to a remote island had to wait more than eight hours to receive treatment for his wounds, emergency services say. | An Australian diver who was mauled by a bull shark before being rescued and taken to a remote island had to wait more than eight hours to receive treatment for his wounds, emergency services say. |
The scuba diver was attacked on the Great Barrier Reef, in a remote area off the north Queensland coast. | The scuba diver was attacked on the Great Barrier Reef, in a remote area off the north Queensland coast. |
Media reports say torrential rain hampered the rescue effort. | Media reports say torrential rain hampered the rescue effort. |
The man, 55, suffered injuries to his hand, chest and stomach. | The man, 55, suffered injuries to his hand, chest and stomach. |
He was bitten repeatedly by the shark in what medics termed a particularly aggressive attack, and suffered significant blood loss. | He was bitten repeatedly by the shark in what medics termed a particularly aggressive attack, and suffered significant blood loss. |
Paramedic David Cameron said the man was 15 metres (50ft) underwater with other divers when the large shark attacked. | |
"The bull shark has come up from behind and has unfortunately bitten the patient on the arm several times and bitten him on the stomach," Mr Cameron said. | |
"He's very lucky to walk away." | |
Despite his injuries the man managed to swim back to his charter boat. | |
Medics performed first aid to stem the bleeding, but the vessel took several hours to reach the nearest medical centre on Murray Island, midway between Australia and Papua New Guinea. | |
Bad weather meant it then took another three hours for a rescue helicopter to arrive from Horn Island and take the man to Thursday Island Hospital. | |
Australia boosts shark tagging after teen attack | |
What is behind a spike in Australian shark attacks? | What is behind a spike in Australian shark attacks? |
Queensland Ambulance Service Supervisor Kirk Binnington told the Sydney Morning Herald that the attack occurred 65 nautical miles (75 miles; 120km) east of Murray Island. | Queensland Ambulance Service Supervisor Kirk Binnington told the Sydney Morning Herald that the attack occurred 65 nautical miles (75 miles; 120km) east of Murray Island. |
Just a few hundred people live on the small volcanic island, which is covered with dense vegetation. | Just a few hundred people live on the small volcanic island, which is covered with dense vegetation. |
"You can't get more remote than that," Mr Binnington said. | "You can't get more remote than that," Mr Binnington said. |
The man is now reported to be in a stable condition in hospital. |