Heron Island, Australia, Dec 20th 2009: An Australian teenager is in a stable condition in Hospital after being attached by a Shark, while diving off the coast of Heron Island in Queensland.
John Pengelly, 19 yrs old, was diving with two friends at Lamont Reef off Heron Island when a three-meter bull shark bit him ripping a deep 20cm gash in his forearm. Pengelly who is reported to be a free diving champion was said to be spear fishing with his two friends when the incident occurred at around 7:45am on the 20th of December. His companions immediately came to his assistance and tied their t-shirts around the gash to stop the profuse bleeding.
The victims are reported to have approached a passing fisherman vessel for assistance.Surprisingly the vessel refused to take aboard the wounded diver, but instead only radioed the authorities for assistance. The group had to sail back to Heron Island on their small craft which took half an hour before the Royal Flying Service airlifted Pengelly to Royal Brisbane Hospital for surgery to repair the several damaged arteries, tendons and bone damage.
Pengelly, who was questioned in recovery after his surgery said he had just returned to the surface after shooting a Mangrove Jack fish when the shark attacked him from below, catching him totally by surprise. He stated it was probably an inquiry bite, a case of mistaken identity from the part of the shark.
photos by: adman_as, cliffandally, fabiogis50
