Teenager bitten by shark in Torres Strait in critical but stable condition

A group of boys have been praised for their actions in rescuing a teenager bitten by a shark in the Torres Strait.

Transcript

00:00A 14-year-old boy was fishing with his mates on Thursday Island at dusk on Saturday night

00:07when he jumped off the wharf they were fishing on into the water for a swim

00:11and was attacked by a shark.

00:13The shark has latched onto his stomach.

00:15The boy's friends witnessed the attack and immediately jumped into the water to pull him to safety.

00:21Unfortunately, he has suffered life-threatening injuries.

00:24He was treated at the scene by paramedics before being rushed to the hospital on Thursday Island for treatment

00:30and was then airlifted to Townsville for emergency surgery.

00:34The mayor of the Torres Shire, Elsie Syriot, says she is shocked by the incident.

00:40It's rocked the small, tight-knit island community of about 3,000 people

00:44where she says everybody knows everybody.

00:46Her son is actually a friend of the young boy.

00:49They are in the same dance group together.

00:50And so, for that reason, everyone on Thursday Island is on edge.

00:55She's praised the quick-thinking actions and bravery of that boy's friends

00:59who pulled him out of the water so quickly and said their actions may well have saved his life.

01:05At this stage, authorities are still unsure what type of shark was responsible

01:10or how big it may have been.

01:12They've said water quality and visibility was not great at the time

01:15and they are urging people to stay out of the water, particularly at dawn and dusk.

01:20This is the third serious shark attack in Queensland in 2025,

01:25but attacks in the Torres Strait are quite rare.

01:28This is the first documented shark attack in the region in about eight years.

01:33In that part of the world, it's usually saltwater crocodiles swimmers have to be careful of.

01:38The latest on this boy's situation from the hospital is he remains in a critical condition

01:43but has stabilised and will be undergoing more surgery.