Man 'bitten by shark' while paddle boarding on Sunshine Coast
A man has been hospitalised after it is believed he was bitten by a shark on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
The man, aged in his 40s, was rushed to hospital with a suspected bite wound to his wrist in waters off Bells Esplanade, at Pelican Waters in Caloundra, on Tuesday about 8am.
A Queensland Ambulance spokesman told Yahoo News Australia it’s yet to be confirmed whether the “very minor” wound was caused by a shark.
The man was taken to the Caloundra Clinic in a stable condition.
The man wasn’t bitten at a beach but in a waterway where he was paddle boarding.
7News identified the man as resident Craig McDougall.
Mr McDougall said he believes a baby bull shark got tangled in his leg rope.
“I’ve gone to pull my leg rope and it’s latched onto me,” he said.
“That’s when self preservation kicked in and I just ran.”
He added the creature was strong enough to pull the leg rope off him.
The paddle boarder said while he was attacked it won’t stop him from heading back to the water on Wednesday if he can.
The Sunshine Coast is often a hotspot for tourists over the NSW and Queensland school holidays.
A Surf Lifesaving Queensland spokesperson told Yahoo News Australia the best places to swim over the holidays are patrolled beaches between the red and yellow flags.
#PelicanWaters - Paramedics are assessing a patient following a suspected bite to the wrist which occurred in waters off Bells Esplanade. QAS is still assessing as to whether the bite is from a shark.
— Queensland Ambulance (@QldAmbulance) July 8, 2019
“It’s best to head to our patrolled beaches and during the school holidays, we always expect more people,” she said.
“Lifeguards also definitely keep an eye out for marine creatures.”
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