Crew helped shark attack victim | Gladstone News | Local News in Gladstone
Crew helped shark attack victim
The skipper on the boat radioed for help immediately.
A MAN on the boat alleged to have left a shark attack victim without assistance said they did everything they could to help the 19-year-old.
In a statement made to the Gladstone water police, the man said “they were sick to the stomachs with concern for the young man’s safety” and “believe they had done everything they could possibly do under the circumstances”.
He told police that one of the family members aboard the 30ft vessel caught sight of the smaller fishing vessel whose occupants were frantically screaming that there had been a shark attack.
The trio of spearfishers asked the skipper on the boat for help, which the man said was immediately provided.
The skipper asked if they had radioed for help and was told that the small fishing vessel’s radio was not in working order.
The spearfishers yelled at the skipper to take the shark attack victim aboard but under the circumstances the skipper thought that it would not be in John Pengelly’s best interests to transfer the heavily bleeding man from one vessel to another as it would cause him unnecessary trauma and potentially make his injuries worse.
The skipper notified the authorities and advised the men to head to Heron Island.
The skipper immediately radioed VMR Gladstone advising them that there had been a shark attack and an emergency helicopter and paramedics were needed on Heron Island.
The man said the skipper remained in contact with authorities until the shark attack victim reached Heron Island and word was received that a helicopter had arrived.
The man said his family, who were on the boat, were distraught to hear that Mr Pengelly had implied they did nothing to help.
He said they were “under a lot of stress and had replayed the situation over and over in their heads and still believe...they did everything they humanly could for a small family on a family fishing outfit”.
“I’m just absolutely distraught,” he told The Observer.
“My dad is a skipper and he is absolutely gut-wrenched that this could happen after everything we did to help.”
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Posted by jodyandryan from Gladstone, Queensland
23 December 2009 7:31 a.m. | Suggest removal » | Post reply »
To the young man and his family,
I think the skipper was more than welcoming to have you on his boat. He could of left you there because there are so many things these days that could of gone wrong like you could of been faking it so you can hiijack his boat etc etc.
He did all he could under those circumstances so stop complaining. I would of done the same thing.
Thank you to all the good people out there.
Posted by GraemeD from Kirkwood, Queensland
23 December 2009 11:22 a.m. | Suggest removal » | Post reply »
Why did the observer publish a story complete with piture without checking out the allegations made? Why does the family now have to defend themselves after the fact? A sad face on the front page must sell newspapers as the observer does it all the time.
Posted by saranalex from Turkey Beach, Queensland
23 December 2009 11:57 a.m. | Suggest removal » | Post reply »
we had heard this story before it hit the papers and it is totaly different but the guy who tried to help did the right thing he was bleeding any smart person would know not to interfere with the guy with wounds that bad he did the right thing i dont see the need to put him down for it.for the victim and crew WHY wasnt your radio working that is one off the inportants to fishing off shore i think next time you lot want to go out on a trip make sure you are prepared for everything
Posted by robbo from Gayndah, Queensland
23 December 2009 3:07 p.m. | Suggest removal » | Post reply »
I am glad to see the truth on this story printed. The fisherman didnt want his face plastered all over the papers looking for attention. He simply helped a person who needed help and did all he could. It must have been for the best as Pengelly survived. A simple thanks would have been sufficent but instead he was ridiculed and shamed over untruths. If the situation was to happen again this fisherman would do the same thing and help to save another persons life. These boys need to grow up and stop telling schoolyard untruths.
Posted by Webby from Bundaberg East, Queensland
23 December 2009 4:40 p.m. | Suggest removal » | Post reply »
A big thumbs up to the skipper and his family that helped Mr Pegelley get the Urgent Medical assistance that he needed....its a shame that the Trio did not give the family the credit they deserved.....instead pointing fingers and bad mouthing them trying to fuel the rift between fishermen and spearfishermen.....It would be nice to see Mr Pengelley and his mates thank the skipper and his family for their efforts and appologise for the unnessary slander against them!
Posted by dilly from Bundaberg North, Queensland
23 December 2009 5:36 p.m. | Suggest removal » | Post reply »
Great to see the real story has come out!!!! The media should have learnt the rules by now that there are 2 sides to a story not just one. A huge credit is due to the people that saved this man and got him the urgent help that he needed... after all if they were not out there fishing what would Mr Pegelley have done. Mr Pegelley needs to take a good look in the mirror, If it wasnt for this help would he still be breathing today????