Sydney Harbour shark attack: witness tells of ‘surreal’ rescue from water as bystanders and medical staff praised
January 30, 2024
By Tamsin Rose and Australian Associated Press
A vet and her neighbours are being praised for saving the life of a shark attack victim who dragged herself out of the water at a Sydney harbour beach.
Lauren O’Neill, who is in her late 20s, was bitten on the right leg by a suspected bull shark in Elizabeth Bay around sunset on Monday.
Michael Porter had just arrived home from work when he heard faint yells for help through his open window.
“It was horrifying, I’ve never experienced anything like it,” he told Nine’s Today program on Tuesday.
“Lauren, the victim, was trying to pull herself up off the side [of] the harbour pool, trying to get into the safe enclosure.
“Her leg was sort of trailing behind her – behind her was all red blood.
“The whole thing was totally surreal and I still haven’t processed it all, to be honest.”
He was quickly joined by several other neighbours, including a “hero” vet named Fiona who applied tourniquets to stem the bleeding.
O’Neill’s significant wounds meant “blood was everywhere” and, while in little pain, she struggled to maintain consciousness before paramedics arrived and rushed her to nearby St Vincent’s hospital for surgery.
She was in a stable condition on Tuesday morning.
“Fiona is a hero and I believe she saved her life,” Porter said.
“I’m not sure what would have happened but it wouldn’t have been good.”
The quick-thinking neighbours were praised by senior New South Wales government ministers on Tuesday.
“I understand it was a vet who went and assisted that person, quite possibly saved their life,” the health minister, Ryan Park, said.
“I also want to thank the paramedics and emergency service personnel as well as the staff at St Vincent’s who have literally performed a miracle overnight and kept this person alive.”
The deputy premier, Prue Car, said she was “reeling” from news of the attack and thanked those who helped the young woman.
“I want to say a special thanks to that legend of a bystander who came in and I believe made a makeshift tourniquet,” she said.
“What a legend. Thank you so much for possibly saving that young woman’s life after a pretty shocking incident.”
The agriculture minister, Tara Moriarty, said government shark scientists had assessed the injuries and determined a bull shark was likely responsible.
“Our thoughts are with the young woman, Lauren O’Neill, and her family,” she said.
“Awareness of where to swim and not to swim is the best shark safety approach. Through research, our scientists have found there are conditions that increase the chances of encountering a shark.”
She said swimmers should be “avoiding swimming at dawn, dusk and night, plus keep away from murky, dirty water, and waters with known effluents or sewage”.
Approximately eight tagged bull sharks had been detected by shark listening stations off Sydney beaches over the past week, according to the minister, who said the government would continue to work with councils on shark safety programs and awareness.
Shark attacks in Sydney harbour are rare but the area is an important habitat for adult and sub-adult bull sharks.
Tagging and tracking in the past 15 years has revealed bull sharks use all areas of the harbour, from Parramatta and Lane Cove rivers to Middle and North harbour.
They prefer water temperatures above 20C, slightly deeper water during the day and shallower water at night and are more active at dawn and dusk.