CAIRNS, Australia (30 Dec 2002) -- A Dutch tourist has survived a hammerhead shark attack off the far north Queensland coast, a popular scuba diving and snorkeling area. Lienne Schellekens, 18, was snorkeling near Upolu Cay, about 40km off Cairns, when the shark latched onto her left arm, ripping chunks from it, before she was dragged from the water by her tourist boat's skipper. Ms Schellekens was airlifted to the mainland and was in a "distressed but stable" condition at Cairns Base Hospital late yesterday as she awaited surgery on her arm. Ms Schellekens, who is travelling through Queensland alone, was swimming near three other people when the shark attacked her. Boat skipper Chris Adams said he raced to help Ms Schellekens in a dinghy when "she suddenly started screaming". "I wasn't quite sure what was causing the problem but when I got to her there was a lot of blood in the water," he said. "It was pretty horrendous. We had to get her in the dinghy and got her back to the boat and bandaged her up as well as we could." Another tour operator took her to Upolu Cay and helped with first-aid until a Queensland Rescue helicopter arrived with a paramedic. | | Mr Adams said tour and dive boats travelled to the same area every day and it was regarded as safe. "Where we go is not noted for any of the big sharks or the dangerous sharks," he said. "It's one of those things that is just a most unusual experience." Paramedic Chris Beadnell, who flew out to Upolu Cay, said Ms Schellekens told of briefly seeing the shark before it attacked. "Apparently it only attacked once then went away," Mr Beadnell said. SOURCE - ABCSCUBA FORUMDISCUSS THIS TOPIC - Dive in and have your say at Scuba Forum |
