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Shark bites off tourist's foot before returning to rip off another man's calf in horrifying attack off Australian coast

Danny Maggs, 22, suffered severe calf lacerations and Alistair Raddon, 28, had his right foot bitten off after being attacked while out snorkeling on the Whitsunday coast on Tuesday, October 29
UPDATED FEB 27, 2020
(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

A horrifying shark attack on two British tourists off Queensland's Whitsunday coast on Tuesday, October 29, left one of them with his foot ripped off and another with serious injuries. The pair was airlifted to Mackay Base Hospital in serious conditions.

While Danny Maggs, 22, suffered severe calf lacerations, Alistair Raddon, 28, had his right foot bitten off, rescuers said.

A spokesperson at the hospital confirmed that the vicious attack took place at about 10:20 am when both of them were snorkeling in Hook Passage and left them “wrestling and thrashing about in the water." 

In this photo provided by RACQ CQ Rescue, a helicopter and ambulances used in the rescue of two tourists attacked by a shark are parked on a sporting ground, near Airlie Beach, Australia (AP)

According to Queensland Ambulance Service's spokeswoman Tracey Eastwick, Raddon was first attacked by the shark, before the beast returned to bite Maggs' leg. She said that the duo was lucky to have been discovered by other tourists and rescued on a pleasure boat before being tended by medical professionals and transferred to the shore. 

"It was fortunate that there were two German paramedics on-board the vessel at the time, who were able to render first aid," she told News. "Certainly any first aid in those sorts of circumstances, with those injuries, is extremely important."

It was not immediately clear as to what type of shark attacked the Maggs and Raddon. Both of them are currently in stable conditions and undergoing surgery.

Tourism operator ZigZag Whitsundays confirmed in a statement that a couple of their guests were injured in a shark attack. “Our thoughts are with them, their families and the other guests on the tour,” the business said in a statement. “We are working with authorities to assist in any way we can. We have suspended our tours for today and will work closely with authorities regarding our upcoming tours."

Tourism Whitsundays and Whitsunday Regional Council also released a statement saying that they had arranged counselling for the passengers and the crew aboard the boat where the incident happened. “Our first thoughts are with the two people involved in the incident and their welfare; as well as the other passengers and crew on the boat,” the statement read. “Immediate counseling support was arranged for the passengers and crew, their welfare is also our priority. We would also like to commend the lightning response of our first responders and emergency services.”

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