A Sydney woman is “lucky” to be alive after she was bitten by a great white shark in Botany Bay.
The 55-year-old swimmer survived the first confirmed shark attack in Botany Bay in 25 years, and is recovering at St George Hospital.
The Hurstville local was doing breaststroke laps at Little Congwong Beach about 7pm on Friday when she was mauled by the juvenile shark, which experts believed measured between 2.7 and 3.2 metres long.
Randwick City Council says she was assisted about 20 metres to shore where paramedics treated “serious wounds” on her leg, but she is now in a stable condition.
Mayor Lindsay Shurey says the woman underwent surgery on Saturday morning for a “very large bite” below her right knee.
“I think she’s very lucky to still have her leg… and to survive,” Shurey said.
“She was swimming at dusk, which is never really recommended.”
See SBS
#Lifesaver21 working with @sls_sydney, @RandwickCouncil, @nswpolice and National Parks after a shark attack yesterday at Congwong, La Perouse. Aerial patrol of beaches conducted this morning. Beaches remain closed. pic.twitter.com/JAfyPhfFa9
— Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopters (@Lifesaverhelo) February 23, 2018
