Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Brit tourist’s foot bitten off by shark
Pals are savaged while snorkelling in Oz beauty spot
A BRITISH backpacker is today recovering in hospital after miraculously surviving a horrific shark attack in one of Australia’s most notorious stretches of water.
Alistair Raddon’s foot was bitten off as he snorkelled with friend Danny Maggs off the country’s north-east coast.
Danny also suffered leg injuries when he was bitten as the beast circled back to launch a second attack, police said.
Luckily Alistair, 28, and Danny, 22, managed to make it back to their tour boat, which took them ashore so they could be flown to hospital 70 miles away.
Medics said the pair were “fortunate” two German paramedics were on board to give “extremely important” first aid.
It is still unclear what type of shark was involved in the attack.
Despite his brush with death Danny posted a smiling picture of him being airlifted to hospital in the city of Mackay.
And his former boss, Jamie Dart, revealed he seemed “in good spirits” despite his “scary” ordeal.
Mr Dart said: “He is recovering. He is having surgery on his leg and has got two deep lacerations on one of them.
“I got goosebumps when I heard. My first thoughts were for his mum and dad.
“I contacted them shortly afterwards and they updated me on what happened.
“They said he was doing well. I just got one message from Danny himself and he said, ‘I am OK mate, but it was scary.’
“His parents said he was bearing up and was in safe hands.
“He is a really good lad, who wanted to go explore the world.
“His parents seemed OK and said they had spoken with him and put their minds at rest. He was very lucky, that is all it was.’’
Tracey Eastwick, of Queensland Ambulance Service, praised the holidaying German paramedics who treated Alistair and Danny on the boat.
She said: “Certainly any first aid, with those injuries, is extremely important.”
The attack occurred on a trip from Airlie Beach to Hook Passage, between
Whitsunday Island and Hook Island, about 680 miles north of Brisbane.
The region, near the Great Barrier Reef, has developed a reputation for attacks. Tiger sharks are common there.
Last November, paddleboarder Daniel Christidis, 33, died after being attacked at Cid Harbour, off Whitsunday Island.
Visitors had been warned to keep out of the water in the area after two attacks in two days, months earlier.
Tourist Justine Barwick, 46, was bitten in September while swimming, and Hannah Papps, 12, lost a leg after an attack the following day.
It is unclear when Alistair, from Southampton, and Danny, from Plymouth, will be able to fly home.
A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: “We are in contact with Australian authorities.”