Mackay shark attack: Woman, 50, rescued by navy vessel after leg bitten by shark 200km off Queensland coast
A woman required emergency assistance from a navy vessel after being mauled by a shark off the coast of central Queensland.
Emergency services were first alerted to a shark attack at 4.30pm on Wednesday after a 50-year-old woman was bitten on the leg while snorkeling about 200km off the coast of Mackay.
Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) spokesperson said the woman was rescued by HMAS Warramunga when navy personnel were alerted to the emergency call.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.She was treated for several lacerations to her lower leg on the vessel as it travelled a “considerable distance to Mackay”.
HMAS Warramunga arrived at Mackay Harbour at 12.45am on Thursday.
The woman was taken by paramedics to Mackay Base Hospital in a stable condition.
It is not known what species of shark attacked the woman.
The attack followed a similar incident at Nielson Beach in Bargara, near Bundaberg in March.
Brooklyn Saruer, 13, suffered about 40 puncture wounds to her back, abdomen and thighs after shark — believed to be a tiger shark — bit her and momentarily dragged her underwater at the beach on March 15.
She was rushed to Bundaberg Hospital before being flown to the Queensland Children’s Hospital in Brisbane for surgery to deep cuts. She received more than 160 stitches.
The teen was about 200m from the shoreline when she was attacked.
“It came from behind, kind of. When I turned back around, I saw a splash, an outline, but that was about it,” she told Sunrise after the attack..
“It bit my side here, pulled me down. My friend saw me come back up.”
She was treated at a local surf lifesaving club before being taken to hospital.
