A shark bit a diver on the forearm in the waters off Bruny Island, Tasmania.
Tasmania Police said they received a report of an assault at around 9.10am this morning.
Inspector Darren Latham said “the man was diving with two other people in eight meters of water and about 50 meters offshore from Coal Point, Adventure Bay, when he was bitten by what was believed to be a two-metre broadnose sevengill shark.”
“The man was able to return to shore and was helped by fellow divers who contacted emergency services at around 9.10am.
“He suffered non-life-threatening injuries to his lower forearm and was taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital by Westpac Rescue Helicopter in a stable condition,” the statement said.
Inspector Latham said.
The police boat Dauntless was patrolling the area, but the shark has not been seen again at this time, police said.
“While this appears to be an isolated incident, we would like to remind anyone planning to swim or dive in the area to remain vigilant, follow local safety advice and be aware of their surroundings,” Inspector Latham said.
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The divers were in the water at Coal Point on Bruny Island. (ABC News: Lucy McDonald)
A witness said the diver was “retrieving” a speared fish when he was attacked
There was a man at the scene who wished to remain anonymous.
He told the ABC he is “an avid diver and is familiar with the area.”
He said the group of divers were “diving underwater and scuba diving.”
“The guy who was bitten speared the fish and the shark bit him while he was spearing the fish,” he said.
“It was a pretty good bite, but nothing serious… just a nice dog-sized bite, maybe on the upper arm.”
Fishing Tasmania reports that the broadnose sevengill shark is a “top predator of shark species” and that people “can hook the broadnose shark as it feeds on other sharks.”
Greg said his group put plans to swim on hold after hearing the news. (ABC News: Lucy McDonald)
Greg, who was on Bruny Island with his family, said: “We were just having breakfast, talking about taking a dip in the cold, and then we saw someone had been bitten by a shark.
“So we decided it wasn’t a good idea.
“We don’t hear about shark attacks too often in Tassie, let alone Bruny.
“The chance of being bitten is very small. “I mean, we’ve been swimming all our lives and we don’t really worry about it.”
Sharks ‘don’t look for people to bite,’ expert says
Chris Black, a shark researcher and author, said he knew the location of Coal Point and had “dive there several times.”
“It has a rocky bottom, overgrown with seaweed and crayfish, and is also a popular shore diving site. It has also been a popular fishing spot for generations.”
Mr Black said: “The same, less serious bites reported today have previously been caused to divers in Tasmanian waters by species such as sevengill sharks and bronze whalers, particularly where fishing activity occurs.
“Sharks are not looking for people to bite, but are testing whatever they come across to see if it is edible.
“They’re just trying to survive and people need to take responsibility by going into a shark’s dining room.”
Mr Black said there had been 15 historically documented shark incidents in Tasmania since European settlement, six of which were fatal.
“Tasmanian divers frequently encounter sevengill sharks, usually without incident. They are curious animals and often probe divers by slowly circling them,” he said.
“They are generally considered harmless, but can become aggressive in situations where there is food or an irritant in the water, such as fish blood.”
Mr Black said sevengill sharks “are the most commonly encountered shark species in coastal waters such as the D’Entrecasteaux Channel and the Derwent Estuary and are ubiquitous throughout Tasmanian waters”.
Anyone who sees a shark should report it to police on 131 444.
If the sighting poses an immediate threat, call Triple Zero (000).