A woman bitten by a shark in Queensland says she still loves sharks even as she was wheeled into a hospital.
Anika Craney, 29, was part of a seven-person documentary crew filming sharks and other underwater encounters while anchored off Fitzroy Island, Australia.
An experienced freediver, Craney and another crew member swam to the island July 14 just before noon. As the pair were returning to the boat, about 328 feet (100m) away from land, an estimated 6-foot-long (2m) shark approached.
“I look down into the murky water and saw a big shark coming towards me, from my left,” Craney told 7NEWS from Cairns Hospital.
“He was already almost underneath me.
“I had only two seconds before I could respond.
“I flipped my body around and put the fins in front of the shark’s face, which is what we always do if we see a shark we’re not sure about.
“Usually the sharks we encounter are not aggressive and it’s not an issue.
“But I did that and I’m so glad I did that.
“The shark had already decided it was going to have a go – to either see what I was or have a taste.
“It came up beneath me and bit my fin and the bottom half of my leg, from my ankle to the fin.”
Craney used her right fin to kick forward and the shark released its grip.
“I immediately put my hands to my legs to hold it in place and to stop the bleeding, which I could now see was spurting into the water,” she said.
She began calling for help and was assisted by a friend and a person on a paddleboard, who took her to shore.
Once they were on the beach a tourniquet was applied and Craney was able to finally move her grip on the large wound.
“There were doctors on scene at Fitzroy Island and they provided first aid … She ended up with a possible fracture of the left lower ankle and some lacerations from the shark bite,” Queensland Ambulance Service critical care flight paramedic Terry Cumming told the Brisbane Times.
“[At the time] she was relaxing [and swimming] on the island. She’s actually doing a shark documentary and it’s her day off today.”
Ms. Craney, a nurse, videographer and New South Wales Rural Fire Service volunteer, was transported about 3 miles (5km) by helicopter to Cairns Hospital. As she was wheeled in the hospital, she told reporters “I still love sharks! Sharks are beautiful!”
Wile undergoing surgery to repair several torn tendons, doctors found a fragment of sharks tooth, probably from a bronze whaler.
Shark have been in the news after two fatal shark attacks bring the total to five deaths in the country. Two occurred this month.
Mani Hart-Deville, 15, died after a great white shark bit his legs July 11.
Deville was at the remote Wilsons Headland at Wooli Beach when the shark grabbed him, let go and then reported to come back a second time. Fellow surfers came to his aid and brought him to shore, but he died on the beach.
Matthew Tratt, 36, was spearfishing with his brother, in Queensland July 4, when he was killed by a shark. The two were off a spot called Indian Head off Fraser Island when a white shark bit his legs.
Tratt’s brother helped him from the water and onto some rocks where he called for help. Despite help from an off-duty doctor and nurse, Tratt expired.
Surfer Robin Ped,retti, 60, was fatally injured by a great white shark off Salt Beach, New South Wales June 7.
Zach Robba, 23, fatal injuries off a remote New South Wales North West Island April 6.
Gary Johnson, 57, was killed while scuba diving by a great white off Cull Island off Esperance Jan. 5.
All locations have been marked on the 2020 Shark Attack Map.
