Three teens are on the mend after being bitten by sharks in Australia.
Jack Trenow and his friend Liam were snorkeling at Whaler’s Beach in Western Australia Jan. 22 with Jack’s mother Melanie, peering between seagrass in the shallow waters. The boys wanted to climb on some rocks and as Jack began to climb, he screamed that something was biting him.
Unfortunately, he had disturbed a suspected wobbegong shark which became territorial.
Melanie pulled Jack into clearer water and as she was examining his injuries, Liam started screaming. She called for the young man while friends in a kayak came and helped the trio to shore.
Both teens were bitten on their knees, ankles and feet. They were given first aid on the beach and did not require medical assistance. Both boys are healing well and are again snorkeling in the same area.
A similar incident occurred two days later near Sydney in New South Wales.
Jack Shackle, 11, was enjoying the waters at Warriewood Jan. 24, when he had a run in with a shark.
He planned to swim through the blowhole tunnel, an underwater marine cavern that teens often swim through, and started by jumping from a rock ledge. Upon hitting the dark water, something grabbed his foot. He yelled a warning to a friend who had jumped in behind him and began kicking the shark.
Thankfully, the suspected wobbegong released his foot and Jack’s father jumped into the water to assist his son.
Jack’s father left his son in the care of another lad’s father while he ran to alert lifeguards. The guards dispatched a boat that picked up the injured boy and took care of him until an ambulance arrived. He was taken to the Northern Beaches Hospital for treatment of several puncture wounds.
Jack appears to have taken the incident well and was photographed giving thumbs up while leaving the hospital.
While there are no reports of fatal wobbegong shark attacks, around six people have died while trying to swim the blowhole tunnel.
All locations have been marked on the 2022 Shark Attack Map.
