Woman attacked by three-metre bull shark in Tonga
Rex
An Australian woman is recovering in hospital after being attacked by a three-metre bull shark while working in Tonga.
Kylie Maguire, 29, was bitten on the thighs and buttocks by the shark as she was swimming behind a kayak in Vava'u.
She had been working in the area as a 'treasure hunter' with the Tongan government and shipwreck explorers Tonga Blue.
Her father Mike Maguire said the attack happened on Monday, and that his daughter had been recovering well until one of her bites became infected.
He told abc.net.au: "Apparently she's been smiling and joking and being her normal, incredibly strong self.
"She was hit by the shark in the right thigh, it was about an 18-inch-wide bite with one-inch teeth they reckon.
"But the problem is the inside of the left thigh has had about a six-inch bite, two-inch-piece of chunk taken and this is becoming infected.
"So we've gone from Monday everything not being too bad to yesterday, no she has to be airlifted out there's infection setting in.
"She said when they changed the dressing it was quite painful, but I also was told the bite marks around her buttocks and thighs on the right hand side are looking really good.
"The main thing is they've missed all the major arteries and nerves which is really important."
Kylie, a keen conversationist, will be flown back to the Gold Coast Hospital in Brisbane this week.
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