Snorkeler Severely Bitten by Great White Shark off Western Australia

On October 30, 2010, at approximately 12:30 PM, a 20-year-old female snorkeler and videographer working for Rockingham Wild Encounters was attacked by a great white shark in the Eastern Indian Ocean off Garden Island Naval Base near Rockingham, Western Australia. The victim was hosting a swim-with-the-dolphins tour when the shark struck. During the attack, a fellow tour participant, Trevor Burns, demonstrated remarkable presence of mind. As the shark bit the young woman, Burns grabbed hold of the shark's tail, causing it to release its grip. He then retrieved the victim as she began to sink and brought her back to the boat. The victim sustained severe lacerations and puncture wounds to her left buttock and thigh. Tooth fragments recovered from her wounds confirmed the attacker was a great white shark, estimated at 12 to 15 feet in length. The clean-edged, widely-spaced tooth impressions were characteristic of this species. Immediate response proved critical to the outcome. A paramedic aboard the vessel worked with sea rescue volunteers to stabilize the victim and control bleeding while awaiting helicopter evacuation. She was transported first to HMAS Stirling naval base for initial medical treatment, then airlifted to Royal Perth Hospital where she underwent surgery requiring approximately 200 stitches. The victim was wearing a shark shield, an electrical-pulse device designed to repel sharks, at the time of the incident. Weather conditions were clear with calm seas and light winds at the time of the attack.