‘The bravest person I have ever seen’: Commercial diver suffered horrific injuries after her leg was mauled by a suspected tiger shark
- A 20-year-old woman was seriously injured after being bitten by a shark Sunday
- Commercial diver was snorkelling near Cape York coast when she was attacked
- Despite her injuries, rescuers said she was ‘talking’ and in ‘good spirits’
A 20-year-old woman has been praised for her bravery after she was mauled by a shark while snorkelling in Queensland.
The commercial diver was swimming off the coast of Cape Grenville off the Cape York peninsula around 6.30pm on Sunday when she was attacked by what is believed to be a tiger shark.
The young woman was taken to shore by a cray-fishing boat crew and later airlifted to Cairns Hospital with severe injuries from her ankle to her knee on her right leg.
A 20-year-old woman was praised for her bravery after she was mauled by what was believed to be a tiger shark (stock image) while snorkelling in Queensland
Rescuers said the woman was remarkably ‘in quite good spirits’ and chatting on the way to the hospital.
‘She was stable when we arrived on scene, and she was conscious and in quite good spirits, considering,’ rescue officer of Babcock Australasia Dominic Hodalin told the Townsville Bulletin.
‘This was the bravest patient I have ever seen – the fact she was conscious and talking about diving all the way back on the helicopter ride, that was something.’
Rescue crews were also praised for their heroic and speedy actions, which saved the woman’s life.
She was treated with first aid which prevented significant blood loss.
The woman, who works for Marine corporation MG Kailis’ lobster division, remains in hospital and is said to be in a stable condition.
The commercial diver was swimming off the coast of Cape York around dusk on Sunday when she was attacked by what was believed to be a tiger shark. (Pictured: stock image of Lockhart River, Cape York, QLD)