Anika Craney was bitten by a shark while she was swimming of the coast of Far North Queensland, Australia. She recalled how the water turned red with blood after the shark bit her leg.
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A shark attack survivor says she's looking forward to swimming with the animals again despite her 'near death' experience.
Remarkable footage taken after the attack last Tuesday shows Anika Craney giving the thumbs-up before shouting "I still love sharks, sharks are beautiful" as she was being wheeled into hospital on a stretcher.
Earlier that day documentary maker Anika, 29, and her film maker colleague Emily had been swimming close to the coast of Far North Queensland, Australia.
As the women were swimming back from the beach to their boat, Anika spotted a large shark – either a pigeye or bull – swimming beneath her in the murky water.
Anika looked cheery as she was wheeled off
(Image: Nine News)
Writing about the chilling incident today, Emily recalled: "Instinctively she (Anika) span around to put her fins between her and the shark, at about the same time the shark turned and bit her on the lower calf, ankle and fin.
"Anika began screaming, she kicked towards shore with her right fin and with her hand held her left leg which was now bleeding uncontrollably turning the water around her red."
Reliving the experience herself, Anika told news.com.au : “In that moment I did think I could die, because I was bleeding so much in the water and I couldn’t see anything.
The 29-year-old was airlifted to hospital
(Image: Queensland Ambulance)
She may have been attacked by a bull shark
(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
“I didn’t know where the shark was and I thought it was going to come for me for a second bite.
“I am really lucky and really grateful it didn’t."
Emily swam over to Anika and helped her clamber up onto a paddle board, which they then steered back onto land.
Two doctors and a nurse who happened to be staying on the island rushed to help her, while a passing man removed his belt to make a tourniquet.
Anika was helped by two doctors and a nurse who were on the island
(Image: barefootcaptain/Instagram)
A Queensland Air ambulance was called which winched Anika aboard and flew her to nearby Cairns Base Hospital Emergency.
Emily recalled: "Anika remained brave the whole time, cracking jokes (mostly at Captain Dean) right up until she was winched up into the helicopter."
The shark attack survivor remains in hospital where she has undergone surgery to treat severed tendons.
She is due to go under the knife again this weekend.
She was winched into the helicopter
(Image: barefootcaptain/Instagram)
The attack has not diminished Anika's lust for life
(Image: nunufis/Instagram)
It has been a rough year for Anika.
Earlier this year she lost her home in the New South Wales town of Cobargo to a bushfire.
Just two weeks before she had finished building a kitchen in a wooden cabin by hand.
The combination of losing her home and being attacked by a shark has not been enough to diminish her spirit however.
"Anika will remain in hospital, and the Captain and crew have rarely left her bedside," Emily's statement continues.
"She has had a first surgery and we expect more to come and a few months of rehab as the tendons in her leg heal.
"As soon as she is able to swim again she wants to be back in the water and she is already planing to swim with sharks again…This time in clear water."
Sourse: www.mirror.co.uk
