Surfer mauled by shark swims to shore despite leg injuries
PERTH, Australia — A surfer mauled by a shark Monday off southwestern Australia managed to swim to shore despite serious injuries to both of his legs, an official and a witness said.
Alejandro Travaglini was surfing at Gracetown around 8 a.m. when he was attacked, St. John Ambulance spokesman Dennis Bertoldo said. The Argentinian-born 37-year-old was treated on the beach by paramedics before he was flown by helicopter 250 kilometres (160 miles) to a hospital in the city of Perth, Bertoldo said.
The hospital described the victim’s condition as stable.
The attack prompted the World Surf League to postpone the nearby Margaret River Pro international surfing contest for about an hour.