Australian shark-attack victim to remain hospitalised

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Paddy Trumbull was transported to the Mackay Base Hospital after the attack. [AAP/ CQ Rescue]

Last Updated: Mon, 15 Feb 2010 08:51:00 +1100

A woman bitten by a shark in the Whitsunday Islands, off Australia's north-east, at the weekend will spend the next week in a north Queensland hospital.

Paddy Trumbull, 60, says she didn't think of the pain when the shark attacked her.

"All I could concentrate on was surviving and I surprised myself that I just wanted to survive," she said.

Ms Trumbull says she was swimming near Dent Island when she was attacked by what may have been a reef shark or a bronze whaler.

Witnesses told authorities they saw the shark pull Ms Trumbull under the water and she lost a large amount of blood.

Hamilton Island spokeswoman Susan Boyd says a medical crew stabilised Ms Trumbull before a rescue helicopter took her to the Mackay Base Hospital.

She'll need at least five more operations but she's keeping her sense of humour.

"And I have to have a new remodelled bottom, so that's a positive."

A counsellor will visit Mrs Trumbull on Monday with health authorities saying she's expecting to stay in Mackay Base Hospital until the end of the week.