BEIJING, Jan. 23 (Xinhuanet) -- An Australian man was
airlifted to a hospital with serious injuries Tuesday after being attacked by a
3-meter white pointer shark, local media quoted his friends and rescue officials
as saying.
Eric Nerhus, 41, was diving for
abalone off Cape Howe, near the eastern town of Eden, about 400 kilometers south
of Sydney, when he was attacked by the shark, also known as a great white, his
friends and the Snowy Hydro Rescue Helicopter service told media.
The shark grabbed Nerhus by the head, crushing his
face mask inwards and breaking his nose, a fellow diver named Dennis Luobikis
who witnessed the attack said.
"He was actually bitten by the head down, the shark
swallowed his head," Luobikis said.
"When he came to us he was conscious and alert but
had a broken nose and lacerations to both sides of his torso and chest -- bite
marks all the way around," a rescue service spokeswoman said.
Nerhus fought to free himself from the shark's jaws
and was eventually pulled back aboard his boat by his son, media reported.
(Agencies)
