Incident Report
Bull Shark Incident During Swimming in Whitsunday Islands, December 1997
whitsunday islands, hook island, luncheon bay, Queensland·Australia
An 8-year-old boy sustained minor lacerations to his leg while swimming at Luncheon Bay, Hook Island, in Queensland's Whitsunday Islands in December 1997. The incident involved a bull shark.
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Incident Profile
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Description
In December 1997, a shark incident occurred at Luncheon Bay on Hook Island in the Whitsunday Islands, Queensland, Australia. An 8-year-old male swimmer sustained minor lacerations to his leg during the encounter. The shark involved was identified as a bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas), a species known to inhabit coastal waters of Queensland. The victim was treated for non-fatal injuries and survived the incident. The Whitsunday Islands are a popular coastal destination in Queensland, and such incidents remain relatively uncommon given the high volume of recreational water activities in the region.