Varanus Island shark attack victim has ‘significant’ injuries but in ‘good spirits’ in Royal Perth Hospital

A man who was attacked by a lemon shark while on a fishing charter off a remote Pilbara island arrived at a Perth hospital in “good spirits” last night.

A Royal Perth Hospital spokeswoman said this morning that the Perth man was recovering well after arriving by ambulance about 9.30pm.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service flew the man, aged in his 30s, from Exmouth to Jandakot Airport after he spent more than 10 hours aboard a charter boat following the attack near Varanus Island about 8.30pm Tuesday.

A St John Ambulance spokeswoman said the victim had significant injuries to his lower body, including “a few bits”, but that they were not life-threatening.

He is in a serious but stable condition.

The man reportedly arrived at hospital in good spirits, describing the shark as “a big one” and estimating its length at more than 3m.

Lemon sharks typically live in waters less than 92m deep and can grow up to almost 4m long.

After the attack on Tuesday night, the man was given first aid on the charter vessel.

It took several hours to get back to the mainland.

Paramedics met the man onshore, who took him to Exmouth Hospital before putting him on a fight to Jandakot.

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development fisheries officers are investigating the incident, which was only reported at 10.30am yesterday and happened about 120km west of Karratha.

Earlier in the day, a shark advice alert was issued on SharkSmart after a sighting in the area.