Jurien Bay shark attack: Royal Perth Hospital gives update on international tourist bitten by tiger shark

An international tourist who was mauled by a tiger shark near Jurien Bay during a sea lion tour will face a long recovery after trauma surgeons worked tirelessly to save her leg. A woman, aged in her mid-40s, was flown to Royal Perth Hospital after she was bitten by a 2m tiger shark off Sandland Island coast around 11.30am on Monday. On Wednesday afternoon a Royal Perth Hospital spokesman confirmed the woman remains in a stable condition inside the State Trauma Unit after undergoing multiple emergency surgeries. The West Australian understands surgeons have made strong progress saving the woman’s leg although she still faces a long road to recovery. After several water patrols, the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions have since reopened beaches in the vicinity of the incident after they were hastily closed. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development still urges swimmers to take additional caution in the water off Jurien Bay and near Sandland Island. The shark attack victim was on a seal lion tour at the time and since the attack, Tourism Minister Rita Saffioti said the tour company would be placed under investigation. “DBCA is undertaking a review of what happened and I will work, as the Minister for Tourism, with DBCA to understand exactly what led to that event.” The Department is tasked with issuing licenses for nature-based tours and spokesperson said the risks of shark attacks had been taken into account when issuing the licence. “DBCA is reviewing (Monday’s) incident in close consultation with the licensed operator,” they said. “In-water tour operations around Sandland Island have been temporarily suspended.” There were 16 people on board the boat tour, including crew, with Japanese and Chinese passengers taking part speaking little English. Kane Krollig, captain of the Turquoise Safaris vessel which carried out the tour, said he and the crew were watching over the tour group when he heard a “lady screaming”. “I looked, I saw blood and gave the signal for the crew to round everyone up,” he said, adding he did not see the shark. Mr Krollig said crew members helped the injured woman back onto the vessel and they assisted in putting a tourniquet on her leg, before he drove the boat back to the harbour. “It would have been 15 mins max,” he said. The woman arrived at Royal Perth Hospital in a critical condition before she was stabilised by doctors. According to the WA SharkSmart website, there have been multiple shark sightings in Jurien Bay over the past fortnight. The first sighting was on February 11 when a member of the public reported a 3m shark of unknown species about 10m offshore of North Dog Beach. Then, on February 17, a 1.5m shark, species unknown, was spotted near the Jurien Bay boat ramp in the town’s marina. And on Tuesday — one day after the shark attack — a 2.0m shark of unknown species was reported 5m offshore, 100 metres north of the Jurien Bay Jetty.