Doctor recalls frantic effort to save shark attack victim off north Queensland coast

A doctor who helped treat shark attack victim, Richard Bettua, off the north Queensland coast yesterday says it was a “scary situation” and at one point Mr Bettua stopped breathing.

Mr Bettua, 59, was spearfishing with a friend off Britomart Reef — just after midday on Sunday — when he was bitten by a shark on the upper thigh.

Ben Reeves, a paediatric cardiologist in Cairns Hospital, said he and two friends had been fishing off Britomart Reef when another boat started coming towards them at speed.

“The chap behind the wheel, waving us down to try and give some assistance… he told us that his friend had been bitten by a shark,” he said.

Dr…