Navy diver in critical condition - shark attack
An elite Navy diver is still in a critical condition in hospital after he was attacked by a shark in inner Sydney waters at dawn yesterday.
In the first shark attack in Sydney Harbour for 12 years, 31-year-old Paul Degelder was badly mauled by what is thought to have been a bull shark in waters off the naval base at Woolloomooloo.
The Able Seaman suffered severe injuries to his right hand and thigh when he was attacked during a counter-terrorism exercise just before 7:00am (AEDT).
The Commander of the Australian Fleet yesterday said the clearance diver was on the surface of the water with a police diver when he was bitten.
Rear Admiral Nigel Coates said Able Seaman Degelder fought off the shark, punching it a number of times, and the attack was over within seconds.
The elite diver was treated on a nearby naval boat and then whisked to shore, before being rushed to nearby St Vincent's Hospital.
A spokeswoman for the hospital says Able Seaman Degelder is still in the Intensive Care Unit in a critical but stable condition.
He had been participating in the last day of an international trial of new technology to protect ports from terrorist attacks when he became the first Australian Navy diver to be attacked by a shark.
The most recent reported brush with a shark in the harbour was on Parramatta River 12 years ago but the last fatal attack was in 1963.
Next month's Sydney Harbour Swim Classic event will go ahead despite the attack.
Organisers have reassured competitors there will be plenty of divers to look out for sharks.
An elite Navy diver is still in a critical condition in hospital after he was attacked by a shark in inner Sydney waters at dawn yesterday.
In the first shark attack in Sydney Harbour for 12 years, 31-year-old Paul Degelder was badly mauled by what is thought to have been a bull shark in waters off the naval base at Woolloomooloo.
The Able Seaman suffered severe injuries to his right hand and thigh when he was attacked during a counter-terrorism exercise just before 7:00am (AEDT).
The Commander of the Australian Fleet yesterday said the clearance diver was on the surface of the water with a police diver when he was bitten.
Rear Admiral Nigel Coates said Able Seaman Degelder fought off the shark, punching it a number of times, and the attack was over within seconds.
The elite diver was treated on a nearby naval boat and then whisked to shore, before being rushed to nearby St Vincent's Hospital.
A spokeswoman for the hospital says Able Seaman Degelder is still in the Intensive Care Unit in a critical but stable condition.
He had been participating in the last day of an international trial of new technology to protect ports from terrorist attacks when he became the first Australian Navy diver to be attacked by a shark.
The most recent reported brush with a shark in the harbour was on Parramatta River 12 years ago but the last fatal attack was in 1963.
Next month's Sydney Harbour Swim Classic event will go ahead despite the attack.
Organisers have reassured competitors there will be plenty of divers to look out for sharks.
