A 7-year-old has been bitten by a shark in Queensland, Australia.
The unidentified girl was the water by North West Island, a remote location with a camping area that is only accessible by boat. While swimming around 5:30 p.m. Jan. 7, she was bitten on the back of the left leg and ankle.
She was treated by a nurse who was vacationing on the island before being transported to Heron Island by private boat. A Bundaberg’s RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopter collected the injured child at Heron Island and transported her to the hospital where she is listed in stable condition.
Authorities reported that other campers had previously thrown fish scraps in the location of the incident and that it might be possible the shark was expecting to be fed.
This is the second shark bite reported in the area in the last two weeks.
A man in his 30s was bitten on the leg by a shark off North West Island Dec. 30. Paramedics responded to the scene around 1 p.m. and found the man had minor lacerations to his hands and lower limbs.
Gladstone senior operations supervisor Alistair Vagg said the species was identified as a shovel-nosed shark.
Over the weekend an Australian diver was killed by a great white shark.
Gary Johnson, 57, was diving in Western Australia when he was attacked by a great white shark.
Johnson was wearing a shark deterrent device, but according to official reports, had not turned the device on before entering the water. The deterrent device generates an electrical current and can shock humans who come in contact with it.
After entering the water to ensure the anchor was secure, he was taken by a large white shark. His body has not been recovered, but his fins and parts of his wetsuit were found.
There have been 3 shark attack bites this year and the approximate locations have been marked on the 2020 Shark Attack Map.
Updated Jan. 10 with additional details and corrected age from 9- to 7-years-old.
