Over $8000 raised for shark attack victim saved by mates
A GoFundMe page has already raised more than $8500 to help a shark attack victim and his fiancee, who is pregnant with their third child.
Glenn Dickson, 26, was attacked while spearfishing near Hinchinbrook Island, off the coast of Cardwell in far north Queensland, on Saturday morning.
Heroic friends tied a tourniquet around his leg and took him to shore where he was then airlifted by helicopter to a Cairns hospital for emergency surgery.
While he remains in a critical condition friends have come to his rescue again, setting up a GoFundMe page that has already received more than 100 donations totalling $8670 in just 16 hours since it went live Saturday.
It is aiming to raise $20,000 to help Mr Dickson's family with expenses.
"Whilst Glenn recovers (which will not be an easy road ahead) The bills still come flowing in - rent/car payments/insurances/food & fuel etc as well as the addition of Glenn and Jessie Lee's third bundle of joy in June... to be able to take this burden off of this wonderful family would help in some ways, ease the pain of watching the man they love tackle the biggest emotional and physical hurdle of his life," the page states.
The Cairns man had just jumped into the water on a reef off Hinchinbrook Island when he was attacked.
Mr Dickson was bitten several times on the leg and was bleeding heavily.
His friends dragged him back to the boat and tied a tourniquet around his leg to slow the bleeding, before making the 30 kilometre journey to the mainland.
He was later airlifted to hospital by helicopter.
One of his friends is a retired US Navy sailor, who had some medical training and was able to help him.
Health officials say the quick actions of Mr Dickson's friends saved his life.
His injuries are deemed very serious and doctors are still ascertaining how bad they are and what further treatment he will require.
An ambulance officer said the father-of-two is lucky to be alive.
"This certainly is a incredibly remarkable story in that this gentleman came so close to death in such a remote location."
It's believed the shark was a bull or tiger species.
Newsbreak – February 19
