Shark attack victim breaks silence from hospital bed after bid to save leg

31 January 2024 , 11:05

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Lauren O’Neill, 29, was swimming when she was ferociously attacked by a suspected bull shark

A woman whose leg was left “trailing behind her” in a shark attack in Australia said she is expected to make a “full recovery” after major surgery.

Lauren O’Neill, 29, was swimming when she was ferociously attacked by a suspected bull shark at Elizabeth Bay, Sydney Harbour, on Monday morning. She endured horrific bite injuries which resulted in "major blood loss."

She was rushed to hospital and her leg was saved by surgeons after having been bitten below the knee to the bone. Lauren was operated on multiple times at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney.

A statement released by the hospital on Ms O’Neill’s behalf said that she would like to thank her neighbours who rushed to her rescue including vet Fiona Cargo who helped to stem the blood flow before paramedics arrived. She told how she had taken a “short dip close to the shore” when the shark attack took place.

People giving aid to Lauren after the attack

Fiona Crago rushed to the scene to help the injured swimmer (Bundanoon Veterinary Hospital)

"She wishes to thank her heroic and very kind neighbours for the critical assistance they provided her," read the statement, that added she also wanted to show her gratitude to her “beautiful family, friends and colleagues for their unflinching care and support”.

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Ms O’Neill is a keen kayaker and swimmer, and local media have reported that while there are shark nets, she often swims out in the open water. Ms Crago, who lives in an apartment overlooking the area, had coincidentally just purchased a set of bandages when she heard people shouting "shark attack". Lauren managed to get out of the water, where Fiona then used the bandages to perform a tourniquet.

Paramedics took Lauren to hospital (TNV)

The vet's wife told Channel 10: "She was severely mauled on her right leg and she was losing a lot of blood. People were throwing down towels and blankets to keep her warm but I just focused on what I had to do, which was to stem the blood flow and bandage the leg as best I can with what I had and just stabilise it. And then put a tourniquet on."

Local Michael Porter also rushed over to the scene to help and described Fiona being there as a "fluke." He told news.com.au: "The fact she had the bandages, it’s just such a fluke. So lucky. I’m not sure she would have survived without Fiona. There was just so much blood loss. There was so much blood in the water that fish were all going off and jumping around in the area. [Fiona] was just incredible.”

Tim Hanlon