Harbour Shark Attack

[VA911]

A shark which attacked a navy diver in Sydney Harbour is believed to be a dangerous bull shark, a shark expert says.

A navy diver is undergoing emergency surgery after being attacked by a shark at Woolloomooloo Bay, in Sydney's inner east, just before 7am (AEDT) on Wednesday.

"If the injuries are severe, it's more likely to be a bull shark," shark expert John West from Taronga Zoo told AAP.

"This time of year, there's a number of species of sharks which are in the harbour: wobbegong, Port Jackson, as well as more dangerous types such as the bull shark and the dusky shark.

"Certainly, sharks occur in the harbour all year round.

"The bull sharks are the most dangerous. But I don't know what sort of shark is involved or the circumstances."

He said bull sharks could grow to up to three-and-a-half metres and Dusky Sharks up to two metres.

A NSW ambulance spokesman said the 31-year-old man was taking part in a defence exercise at Woolloomooloo Bay when he was attacked, suffering severe injuries to his right hand and thigh.

The attack happened near Garden Island Naval Base, a NSW Water police spokeswoman told AAP.

The diver was rushed to nearby St Vincent's Hospital where a spokesman said the victim was undergoing surgery but he could not confirm his condition.

"He's up in surgery at the moment," the spokesman told AAP.

"The fact that he has been rushed into surgery indicates that it is quite serious."

It is believed the diver was taking part in the Kondari Trial, a test of new technologies to protect ports and ships from terrorist attack, which began on Monday.

A spokesman for the Defence Science and Technology Organisation said it was likely the trial would be cancelled on Wednesday.

The last shark attack in Sydney Harbour was at Atol Bay, near Taronga Zoo, and the last fatal shark attack in the harbour occurred in 1963, Mr West said.

Martha Hathaway was killed by a Bull Shark at Middle Harbour in 1963.

A report on the likelihood of shark attacks in Sydney Harbour during the 2000 Olympic Games said the risk was infinitesimally small.

However, the report, by Mr West and Dr John Paxton, research fellow at the Australian Museum, also said: "We recognise that in biology exceptions can occur and that it is never safe to say never".

[Martin]

In last Sundays news papers fishing section was an editorial by Dennis Lockwood saying its only a matter of time before someone gets attacked in the Harbour. This was based on the number of shark sightings/encounters by anglers in recent weeks and the improved water quality.

Cheers

[brickman]

i think the poor bugger lost his hand bloody bull sharks scum off the harbour

i was already going bull shark fishing this weekend but now i think i'll give the bullys a real flogging over the next few weeks

gary

[Fenwickinho]

It was only a matter of time..

[zrealist]

could it be because harry's is in that area and the sharks are congregating there because the smell of hot dogs?