Port Noarlunga shark attack: diver undergoes surgery
An experienced diver had to have several teeth removed from her skull after she was bitten on the face by a great white shark.
Bridgette O’Shannessy, 32, was attacked about 1.20pm on Friday while swimming with her partner off a reef in Port Noarlunga, south of Adelaide.
Ms O’Shannessy has since undergone two operations at Flinders Medical Center after losing some of her teeth and suffering nerve damage.
Despite the horrific facial injuries, Ms O’Shannessy is now in a stable condition and is expected to make a full recovery.
Bridgette O’Shannessy, 32, was attacked about 1.20pm on Friday while swimming with her partner off a reef board at Port Noarlunga, south of Adelaide.
Emergency services are on the scene after the shocking shark attack
Ms O’Shannessy is an experienced diver and environmental consultant at Flinders University and was freediving at the time of the attack.
Her partner Brian Gordon Roberts was at her side when the Great White appeared and is believed to have pushed the shark away, Seven News reported.
“Unfortunately Bridgette was struck by a white pointer at Port Noarlunga Reef yesterday,” Roberts wrote on social media.
‘She is now no longer in intensive care and is in a stable condition.
‘She’s doing very well, considering the circumstances.
“Thank you for all the good wishes I passed on to her.”
South Australia Police said in a statement that officers evacuated the water after the incident “while a search was conducted to locate the shark.”
“The public has since returned to the water after the search failed to locate the shark,” a police spokesman said.
The beach remains open and the Westpac Lifesaver helicopter made the rounds on Saturday in search of the shark.
The latest shark attack comes after a surfer was mauled to death by a huge 4.2 meter great white shark near Granite Rock south of Streaky Bay, SA last week.
The horrific incident claimed the life of 55-year-old local man Todd Gendle.
Witnesses described the moment the shark lunged at the surfer before being dragged underwater by the animal.
Ms O’Shannessy is an experienced diver and environmental consultant at Flinders University and was freediving at the time of the attack
One man saw the surfer’s body in the shark’s mouth before he saw blood everywhere and the man’s lower body disappeared.
Tuesday’s shark attack was the second in the region in recent weeks, after South Australian woman Pamela Cook was mauled by a shark near Beachport on October 2.
The 64-year-old was swimming with local community group Beachport Sea Urchins and Slugs when she was attacked shortly before 8am.
Several months earlier in May, 46-year-old Elliston man Simon Baccanello was killed in a shark attack at Walkers Rocks Beach.
The teacher was mauled about 30 to 50 yards offshore.
Port Noarlunga is a popular beach spot among locals and tourists.
Visitors in the area are known to go swimming and snorkeling and light boating activities such as kayaking.