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🇦🇺 Australia /Conflict & Security

'Very freaky': Off-duty lifeguard recounts saving woman attacked by shark

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • An off-duty volunteer lifeguard described the chaotic moments he saved a woman from a shark attack at Sydney's Coogee Beach.
  • The 35-year-old woman sustained severe injuries to her leg and arms and is in critical but stable condition.
  • The lifeguard paddled towards the woman, initially observing the shark moving slowly, but panicked when it attacked and the water became bloody.

An off-duty volunteer lifeguard recounted the harrowing experience of rescuing a woman from a shark attack at Sydney's Coogee Beach, describing his own state of panic during the ordeal.

The shark didn't look like it was moving too aggressively. It was moving very slowly and inquisitively, so I thought I'd be able to just paddle over and help them onto shore on my [18-foot] board.

— Charlie VercoHe described his initial assessment of the shark's behavior before the attack.

Emergency services were called to the beach yesterday morning following reports of a shark attack. The 35-year-old woman suffered extensive wounds to her left lower leg and arms and is currently in critical but stable condition at St Vincent's Hospital.

Charlie Verco, 25, who was paddleboarding nearby, said he heard the woman's friend screaming about a shark. He initially approached cautiously, noting the shark was moving slowly. "The shark didn't look like it was moving too aggressively. It was moving very slowly and inquisitively, so I thought I'd be able to just paddle over and help them onto shore on my [18-foot] board," Verco stated.

The real panic kind of set in once I saw her getting dragged around a little bit and then when I saw the shark come out of the water and just saw how actually big it was very freaky.

— Charlie VercoHe recounted the moment his panic intensified during the rescue.

However, his apprehension grew as he saw the woman's panic and the "big dark patch in the water." The situation escalated dramatically when the shark attacked. "The real panic kind of set in once I saw her getting dragged around a little bit and then when I saw the shark come out of the water and just saw how actually big it was very freaky," Verco recalled. "Just the size of it was really shocking to me."

Just the size of it was really shocking to me.

— Charlie VercoHe expressed his astonishment at the shark's size.

Unable to get close due to the shark's size and power, Verco signaled to lifeguards on shore for assistance. The water turned bloody, and the woman was briefly submerged before resurfacing. Verco was then able to reach her and help her onto his board. Despite being in shock, she was able to respond to his instructions. Verco, the only person on a craft nearby, felt compelled to help, paddling backward to shore with the woman clinging to his board. She lost consciousness halfway to shore, and Verco had to support her to keep her head above water.

Help

— WomanThe victim's first words to the lifeguard after the shark released her.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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