A father-of-life three’s was saved by a brother-in-law using standard boating equipment when a bull shark almost tore off his arm during their spearfishing excursion.
On Friday, 38-year-old Robbie Peck was swimming 11 kilometers off the coast of Port Hedland, Western Australia, as his brother-in-law Ben and son, 4, awaited on the boat.
However, things took a bad turn as Mr. Peck was returning to the boat with the fish he had just caught when a large bull shark bit into his upper arm and wrist.
The three were at least 30 minutes away from the closest assistance, so Ben acted quickly with what he had on hand.
Wally Galli of GT Diving, a buddy, told 7 News that the man “took the speargun rubber and constructed a makeshift bandage and utilized the wetsuit itself to hold everything in place.”
The young man, who was there assisting his father, was said to be covered in blood.
Thanks to the first aid given, Mr. Peck is healing well at the Royal Perth Hospital where he is receiving treatment, despite the fact that his arm will probably need more surgery and extensive rehabilitation.
His injuries were so severe, according to a Royal Flying Doctor Service spokesman, that his left arm had “almost been amputated.”
At 11.30 a.m., when he was returned to land by boat, he was attended to by paramedics before being taken to Hedland Health Campus under priority one circumstances and then sent to Royal Perth for surgery.
When the shark attacked Mr. Peck, he was wearing a GoPro to record himself spearfishing, but he had to take it off.
The moment she heard “shark attack,” according to his wife Emily, was not a phone call anybody would ever want to receive.
I swear all the blood just drained from my face, and (it was) just that sinking sensation in your stomach, she added.
The couple had planned to sell the yacht, thus the trip was meant to be Mr. Peck’s last aboard it.
The fisheries department of Western Australia is collaborating with neighborhood officials and has asked locals to take extra safety measures in the Port Hedland region.