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Gray reef shark (symbol image)
Photo: Keith A. Ellenbogen / AP
Two young people survived a painful encounter with a shark in southeast Australia.
The two victims - a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old - were being treated in Geelong hospital and were in "stable condition," local media reported on Tuesday.
The city is located about 75 kilometers southwest of Melbourne in the state of Victoria.
The attack reportedly took place on Monday evening (local time) in Ocean Grove, a seaside resort in the state.
The responsible authorities said a shark had been sighted about 500 meters from the beach.
The youngster was bitten by the animal while swimming, it said.
Her friend rushed to her aid and was also injured by the shark.
Several eyewitnesses observed the incident, as reported by the Australian ABC, among others.
"At first we thought they were just fooling around and having fun, but then they looked in need," said Dianne Hobbs.
The former nurse was on the beach with her family on Monday night, providing first aid after helpers took the two teenagers to the beach.
The teenager had a bite wound on her lower right leg and her hand was also injured, Hobbs said.
"We needed extra help to get her out of the water because she lost a lot of blood." According to her, the 16-year-old was wounded in the back.
It was possible to stop the bleeding with towels, among other things, until the ambulances arrived.
The beach was closed after the incident and has not yet reopened.
The responsible authorities announced that they would be intensively looking for the shark.
Only when it has been ensured that the animal is no longer in the vicinity of Ocean Grove will the beach be opened to bathers again.
aar / dpa
