SHARK SHOCK
Family’s trauma at freak attack
THE grandfather of the 10year-old victim of a freak shark attack off the coast of Stanley in Tasmania’s North-West has shared details of the “traumatic” experience, saying the boy’s father saved his life.
Lucas Arnott was fishing for flathead with his dad John Arnott and friends 5km from shore when a shark leapt from the water, grabbed Lucas and pulled him overboard on Friday afternoon.
Mr Arnott, from Latrobe, leapt overboard to save his son before the shark swam away.
David Arnott, the father of John and grandfather of Lucas, said on Sunday that the incident had shocked the family.
“It was a shock to all those involved, a shock to our family,’’ he said.
But he said the Arnotts had always been a fishing family.
Mr Arnott Snr said his son had saved Lucas’s life.
“He’s a great family man and it’s what I would expect of any of my children,’’ he said.
Lucas had surgery at the Launceston General Hospital and is in a stable condition.
THE grandfather of a boy pulled from his boat by a shark, says the youngster’s father saved his life.
Lucas Arnott, 10, was fishing for flathead with his dad, John, and friends 5km from Stanley off Tasmania’s northwest coast on Friday when a shark shot out of the water, grabbed him and pulled him overboard.
Mr Arnott, from Latrobe, leapt overboard to save his son before the shark swam away.
Speaking in Devonport on Sunday, David Arnott read a statement from the family.
“John and Lucas were fishing off Stanley with friends,” he said.
“A shark, unprovoked and undetected before the attack, jumped out of the water pulling him over the side of the boat into the water.
“John recovered Lucas from the water. He was brought ashore at Stanley.”
Mr Arnott Sr denied that the men were cleaning fish or using berley at the time of the incident.
First aid was administered to Lucas at Stanley before an ambulance transported him to the
North-West Regional Hospital and then the Launceston General Hospital, where he underwent surgery and is in a stable condition.
“We are grateful to those who helped administer first aid until the paramedics arrived,” Mr Arnott Sr said.
“Our family is grateful for the community support at this difficult time. Thank you to all those wonderful staff who have looked after (Lucas).”
Mr Arnott Sr said the family had always been keen on fishing.
“We understand the nature of the sea and the potential dangers,” he said.
“It was a shock to all those involved, a shock to our family.
“It’s taken a while for us to actually digest what’s happened and we just asked for some privacy at this time.”
Mr Arnott Sr said John saved Lucas’s life.
“He’s a great family man and it’s what I would expect of any of my children,” he said.
Independent member for Mersey Mike Gaffney taught John Arnott at Latrobe High School, played football with him at Wesley Vale and on Sunday commended his bravery, saying he was not at all surprised by it.
“John was always a good student, fun-loving, mischievous, but always friendly, would do anything for anybody and was always well regarded by his peers and his teachers,” Mr Gaffney said.
“He was a very, very courageous little footballer. He was never shy of getting in and getting the ball. He’s just one of those quiet achievers.”
Mr Gaffney said the heroic tale was “one of those good news stories that I think we need at the moment”.
“It just takes us back to what being a family member is about and the important role that adults have within the lives of their kids,” he said.
“It is pleasing to see the young fella … recover.”
WE UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF THE SEA AND THE POTENTIAL DANGERS. IT WAS A SHOCK TO ALL THOSE INVOLVE DAVID ARNOTT