Shark attack • Sharks • Queensland • Great Barrier Reef

Doctor recalls frantic effort to save shark attack victim off north Queensland coast

Richard Bettua did not have a pulse when paramedics reached him.(Facebook: Richard Bettua)

A doctor who helped treat shark attack victim, Richard Bettua, off the north Queensland coast yesterday says it was a "scary situation" and at one point Mr Bettua stopped breathing.

Mr Bettua, 59, was spearfishing with a friend off Britomart Reef — just after midday on Sunday — when he was bitten by a shark on the upper thigh.

Ben Reeves, a paediatric cardiologist in Cairns Hospital, said he and two friends had been fishing off Britomart Reef when another boat started coming towards them at speed.

"The chap behind the wheel, waving us down to try and give some assistance… he told us that his friend had been bitten by a shark," he said.

Dr Reeves said Mr Bettua's friend, had already given basic first aid and applied a tourniquet but Mr Bettua had already lost a lot of blood.

"He was in a lot of pain and looked grey at that point, had difficulty breathing," he said.

Dr Reeves said they managed to lift him up onto their boat and began heading back to shore.

The man was airlifted to Townsville University Hospital.(ABC: Tom Edwards)

"We all thought that the best chance for this guy was just to get back to shore as quickly as possible, and we had the faster boat by far," he said.

"During the trip, Rick was initially quite stable and talking to us although in a lot of pain and a bit confused but within 5 or 6 miles of the boat ramp he started drifting in and out of consciousness.

Richard Bettua, 59, from South Mission Beach, wears a wetsuit and displays a large fish he has caught. Mr Bettua was bitten by a shark on Sunday, October 25.(Facebook: Richard Bettua)

Emergency services met the boat at Dungeness boat ramp near Lucinda where Dr Reeves said Mr Bettua thankfully started responding to treatment.

"At that point he was looking in a really bad way, we worked on him on the jetty, with the paramedics and there was a doctor there waiting for us as well and managed to get him back," he said.

Throughout the ordeal Dr Reeves said he was thankful for the communication with services back on land, as it was very scary trying to treat Mr Bettua so far out at sea.

"All of us realised very quickly that there's nothing much we could do except to try and get him back as fast as possible.

"It was pretty intense for all of us… to see someone that bad and feel really quite helpless that we couldn't do much.

"Rick's friend saved his life, getting him back to the boat and applying a tourniquet, without that it wouldn't have been a good outcome."

Mr Bettua was taken to Townsville University Hospital for emergency surgery.

He remains in a critical condition.

'Seconds crucial' in survival

Hinchinbrook Mayor Raymon Jayo told ABC News Breakfast sharks were common in the area, which is popular for spearfishing.

"People are aware and they do take precautions but this is tragic and our thoughts and prayers are with the young fella," he said.

Cr Jayo said the Dungeness boat ramp did not have all-tidal access and the victim and his rescuers were lucky the tide was high.

"I was just grateful that when the boat came in, it was high tide, or near high tide, and they could get straight out to the ramp," he said.

"Apparently, seconds were crucial for the survival of that young fella.

"Our concern has always been that, at the moment, we don't have all tidal access to the ramp facilities.

"That's really a problem in the sense that we need half tide or better before we can launch in or out."

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