Queensland shark attack victim's friend 'saved his life'
The friend of a man attacked by a shark in Queensland saved his life by applying a makeshift tourniquet.
US Navy diver Rick Bettua was seriously hurt in the "catastrophic" shark attack on the Great Barrier Reef.
Mr Bettua, 59, was mauled on the leg by a suspected bull shark while spearfishing at Britomart Reef, off Hinchinbrook Island near Lucinda, around 140km north of Townsville.
Rick Bettua was mauled by a bull shark while spearfishing in the Great Barrier Reef. Facebook
Flight critical paramedic Ruiyi Yin said while he had a pulse, Mr Bettua had to be resuscitated when they arrived.
"His friend had applied a makeshift tourniquet which I think was absolutely critical in saving his life," Ms Yin told Today.
Shark attack victim Rick Bettua Nine
Flight critical paramedic Ruiyi Yin brought the shark attack victim to shore. Nine
"He had suffered a significant injury to his upper left thigh and also some significant blood loss as well."
Mr Bettua – who is a dive specialist with the US Navy and originally from Hawaii – was bitten yesterday afternoon at around 12pm.
A distress beacon was set off and paramedics and a rescue helicopter were dispatched to the scene.
Mr Bettua was rushed from Britomart Reef, where he had been spearfishing with a friend, back to shore over a frantic two-hour period. 9News
Mr Bettua, 59, was mauled on the leg by a suspected bull shark. Nine
A frantic effort was made to rush Mr Bettua back to shore via Dungeness Boatramp in Townsville, as he suffered from injuries described by authorities as "catastrophic".
He is in a critical but stable condition this morning after undergoing emergency surgery at Townsville Hospital.
Britomart Reef is a popular fishing destination and is part of the Great Barrier Reef.
It has been reported Mr Bettua saved the life of another spear-fisherman, Glenn Dickson, who lost his leg to a bull shark off the same island three years ago.
It is currently Australia's deadliest year for shark attacks since 2014, with seven deaths recorded so far.
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