Swimmer Bitten Twice in Brisbane River Encounter

A rare inland river attack documented in 1847 with exceptional archival detail — including a verbatim contemporary newspaper account, the victim's identity and profession, a named witness with a reported premonition, the survivor's own improvised tourniquet, and the subsequent capture of a nine-and-a-half-foot shovel-nosed ground shark in the Brisbane River — giving it strong historical and scientific record value.

On the morning of Tuesday, November 30, 1847, James Stewart, manager of a saddle-making firm in North Brisbane, went to bathe in the Brisbane River accompanied by Mr. Robertson, a schoolmaster. After undressing, Stewart entered the water while Robertson remained on the bank. Within moments of entering the river, Robertson observed a large shark approximately twenty yards away, its belly upwards as it rushed toward Stewart. Robertson had previously cautioned his companion to watch for sharks, displaying a premonition about potential danger. As Stewart realized the danger and attempted to reach the shore, the shark struck him twice in rapid succession. The first bite tore into his thigh, causing severe trauma. During the ensuing struggle, Stewart found himself alternately beneath and atop the shark's body as he fought toward safety. The shark inflicted a second devastating bite to his calf before losing its grip. Despite his injuries and exhaustion, Stewart managed to reach the riverbank unaided. Robertson immediately pulled him fully from the water and prevented further attack. Demonstrating remarkable composure under duress, Stewart used his handkerchief as an improvised tourniquet around his thigh to control the hemorrhage. Robertson then ran to secure medical assistance from Dr. Ballow, who arrived and bandaged the wounds before Stewart was transported to the General Hospital. Following the incident, local residents organized an effort to capture the shark responsible. A few hours later, a shovel-nosed ground shark measuring nine feet six inches was hooked and landed by Barrack Sergeant Jones. Upon examination, the shark's stomach was found empty. Stewart's recovery proceeded favorably, though he remained weakened by significant blood loss. This incident validated concerns that had been raised in local publications regarding the safety of swimmers in the Brisbane River.