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10-Year-Old Boy Grabbed By Shark And Pulled Into Water

10-Year-Old Boy Grabbed By Shark And Pulled Into Water

The boy's heroic father jumped in and saved him

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

A boy was grabbed from a boat and attacked by shark before his dad jumped into the water to rescue him.

The 10-year-old's family say there were fishing about 5km off the coast of Stanley, in Tasmania, on Friday afternoon when the incident happened.

The boy was fished out the water and was rushed to North West Regional Hospital where he was treated for injuries to his head, chest and arms. He is now in a stable condition.

PA

An eyewitness saw the shocking moment the boy was pulled from the boat and says the kid's dad and two other men managed to scare away the shark before diving into the water and rescuing him.

Diver Ben Allen told 9News: "All of a sudden the shark leapt clean out of the water, hit the side of the boat and snapped the rod clean off in the rod holder.

"It grabbed the boy all in the one swipe... and pulled him into the water."

Allen said the boy's dad acted on his 'natural instinct' to grab his young son and pull him to safety.

Some witnesses claim the shark looked like a Great White, but this has yet to be confirmed.

A statement from Ambulance Tasmania said: "A 10 year-old boy has been taken to the North West Regional Hospital following a shark attack this afternoon off Stanley on Tasmania's North West Coast.

"The boy, from the North-West, was aboard a six-metre vessel on a fishing expedition about five kilometres from shore with his father and two other men when a shark grabbed him from the boat.

"The boy's father jumped into the water at which point the shark swam off.

"The boy, who was wearing a personal flotation device, suffered lacerations to his arm, and other cuts to his chest and head. He is in a stable condition."

According to 9News, the boy was then taken into a nearby fish and chip shop to keep warm until an ambulance arrived at the scene to take him to hospital.

Tasmanian Police issued a warning about a shark in the area, saying: "Please be advised there has been a large shark sighted in the Stanley area. If swimming or undertaking fishing and other marine activities please take necessary precautions."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Animals, Australia, shark