Shark attack off Lady Elliot Island leaves man wounded

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-05/man-injured-in-shark-attack-snorkelling-lady-elliot-island/106419650

A man in his 50s has been bitten by a shark off Lady Elliot Island, 85 kilometres north-east of Bundaberg, on the Southern Great Barrier Reef.

A Queensland Ambulance Service spokesperson said the man had a significant wound to his arm and minor wounds to his abdomen and hand.

Lady Elliot Island custodian Peter Gash said the man was with two other men.

Mr Gash said they were not guests on the island and had been snorkelling on the western side about 8am.

"The men swam ashore and alerted Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort staff," he said.

"Lady Elliot Island staff provided immediate assistance, stabilised the man and helped coordinate an emergency response."
The man was taken to Bundaberg Hospital by LifeFlight in a stable condition.

Mr Gash said the type of shark was not known and, as a precaution, the western snorkelling zones had been closed until further notice.

"Resort staff and marine shark experts are monitoring the closed snorkel zone and all in-house resort guests have been informed," he said.

Mr Gash said in his 20 years as a custodian of the island, he could not recall another shark bite.

"We've advised all guests, put up signs and reminded people not to swim at dawn and dusk and don't swim in murky water," he said.