'Strange coincidence' saved Sydney shark attack victim Lauren O'Neill, who was at risk of bleeding to death after horror mauling
A swimmer ravaged by a shark was saved by a quick-thinking vet after a 'strange coincidence' when blood poured from her leg.
Lauren O'Neill, 29, was then rushed to hospital beast mauled her in Sydney Harbour on Monday.
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The avid kayaker suffered major blood loss as she frantically tried to climb a jetty ladder in Elizabeth Bay after being bitten by a shark.
Michael Porter, who lives nearby, said he heard Lauren screaming as she clung to the ladder at about 7.45pm local time.
He told De Sydney Morning Herald: “She tried to climb in and behind her was her leg, which was completely open and full of dark red blood behind her.”
As blood flowed from her wound, vet Fiona Crago – who lives in an apartment overlooking a private quay in the bay – quickly applied a bandage to ease the flow while Mr Porter called emergency services.
Shocking images show Lauren lying on the jetty, surrounded by concerned passers-by.
Mrs Crago ran to the scene after grabbing two compression bandages that her wife Georgia had bought alone that day.
The quick-thinking former lawyer told Channel 10: “She suffered serious injuries to her right leg and lost a lot of blood.
“Neighbors had already started providing first aid to her. We had quite a few people who were so helpful.
“People were throwing down towels and blankets to keep her warm, but I just focused on what I had to do, which was stop the blood flow and bandage the leg as best I could with what I had and just stabilize it. a tourniquet.
“I'm not heroic in any way, I was just doing my job and just doing what I was trained to do.”
Ms Crago said it was a “coincidence” that she had bandages.
As a vet, she usually carried them with her, but she didn't have one because she recently changed cars.
She said: “But by a strange coincidence, my wife had gone out yesterday and bought two new compression bandages for a different purpose. So I knew exactly where they were and just grabbed them, so it was lucky.”
Mr Porter added: “She was extremely courageous, she was very courageous throughout the whole case.
“She was lucid and knew everything that was going on, and when she started losing blood, she started to lose consciousness a little bit.
'But we just followed the triple zero respondent's advice to keep her awake.
“It was surreal, we were always concerned and aware of the sharks in the harbour. It only now feels very real.”
Lauren was rushed to St. Vincent Hospital where she remains in stable condition.
Councilor Linda Scott has urged swimmers to “stay out of the water” after the horror attack.
She said on Monday: “I am extremely concerned to hear that a shark attack has occurred in our city Sydney This evening.
“A woman has suffered serious injuries as a result of an attack near Billyear, Elizabeth Bay.
“Please stay away from the port until further notice.”
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