Tasmania shark attack: Boy dragged from boat by Great White
Mauling prompts fears area’s predators are becoming bolder in search for food
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A 10-year-old boy has been dragged from a boat by a shark off the coast of Tasmania prompting fears the area’s predators are becoming increasingly bold in their search for food.
The youngster was rushed to hospital suffering cuts and bite marks across his arms, chest and head following the attack on Friday.
He was only saved after his father jumped into the water to fight off the animal – believed to be a Great White.
“The boy, from the North-West, was aboard a six-metre vessel on a fishing expedition about five kilometres from shore with his father and two other men when a shark grabbed him from the boat,” Ambulance Tasmania said in a statement.
“The boy’s father jumped into the water at which point the shark swam off.”
The child is now in a stable condition in hospital, they added.
But a local fisherman in the town of Stanley told Australia’s ABC News on Saturday that it may be proof the animals were daring to come closer to humans in search of prey.
David Hursey said: “You don’t see this sort of thing happen this time of year, never have, but the amount of seals out here, the way it is these days they’ll come in and feed, [and attack] anything that looks like a free meal.”
He added: “If you’ve got them around here this time of year, wait till summer and they will be even worse.”
The attack came just seven days after a 17-year-old surfer was killed by a shark off the New South Wales coast last weekend – the fifth fatal attack in the country this year.
The previous weekend, a 36-year-old man died after being mauled while spearfishing off Queensland’s Fraser Island.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments