Elyse Frankcom, 19, was attacked seemingly from below by a shark which, according to witnesses, was about 3m long and very possibly a great white.
Frankcom, working for Rockingham Wild Encounters, had been leading a 33-strong tour group snorkelling amongst dolphins.
They were in shallow water off the eastern shore of Garden Island, about 30 miles south of Perth.
She was reported to have had two dolphins by her side when the attack occurred. She suffered substantial gashes to both thighs and her buttocks.
A man who was swimming in the group was reported to have taken hold of the shark’s tail before it released Frankcom and departed.
He was credited also with bringing her to the surface, after she had been dragged under.
Frankcom was taken aboard the tour vessel and rushed ashore. The saviour departed after refusing to give his name to press, saying simply that he hoped “the girl will be okay”.
Frankcom was taken to hospital where she was described as stable and in good spirits after six hours of surgery.
Dolphins and fat-rich seals are amongst the great white shark’s favourite foods. It usually attacks from below after seeing a target silhouetted above.
Swimmers, surfers and surfaced divers who are in the vicinity of dolphin pods or seal colonies can be mistaken for these creatures.
Frankcom’s wounds appear consistent with a taster bite, where the shark takes hold of the potential victim relatively lightly to check it out.
Humans are often then let go as relatively unattractive to eat.
Related links
International Shark Attack File
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