TWO Swedish nurses have relived the desperate battle to save the "badly bleeding" shark attack Brits after "hearing screams" in the water.
Alistair Raddon, 28, and Danny Maggs, 22, were viciously attacked as they snorkelled off Queensland's popular Whitsunday coast.
Alistair had his foot bitten off by the sea beast which then it turned its attention to his pal, before the bloodied pair were plucked from the water.
And two medics from Sweden who happened to be on the same boat trip have been credited with saving the Brit’s life.
Paramedic Billy Ludvigsson said: "We heard screams. We didn't understand what they were saying at first. Then we heard something about sharks."
He said staff brought Mr Raddon back to the boat on a paddleboard before he and his girlfriend flew into action.
Emma Andersson, an emergency room nurse, said: "We started with the man who was worse first. The other man's leg didn't look so bad.
"The other man had lost his foot and we decided to work more with that, to stop his bleeding first."
I think we might have actually saved his life, because he was bleeding so badly."
Billy said: "We had to make a make a makeshift tourniquet with ropes and towels to stop the bleeding.
"It was severe, life threatening at first.
"But we managed to stop the bleeding pretty fast, actually."
He added: "I think we might have actually saved his life, because he was bleeding so badly.
"It was a long boat ride back to shore and if he continued to bleed that much all the way back to shore I'm not sure he would have made it."
Alistair and Danny later issued a statement thanking all their rescuers, saying: "Everyone dealt with our situation well and remained calm and we are very grateful for your help."
But Billy and Emma laughed off suggestions they are heroes, saying they just want to have a beer with the two lads after they get better.
The Brits are later said to have joked with emergency workers about England's semi-final win in the Rugby.
Steve Thurtell, from the Queensland Ambulance Service, said: "I understand they were in good spirits; they made a comment about the World Cup but clearly the impact [of the shark attack] has not been lost on them."
Danny's grandad, Derek Anning, 77, told The Sun yesterday that he has “had surgery and hopefully he will be okay.
"We’re hoping for the best. I think [the bite was on] his calf and up higher on his thigh.
“The authorities are desperately trying to figure out what sort of shark it was.
“He finished his plumbing apprenticeship and he went off backpacking.
"That was over a year ago now, it was all going great obviously until this has happened – it’s terrible, your worst nightmare."
The shark mauling occurred close to where several people have been bitten over the past year, including Dr Daniel Christidis, 33, who died last November during a yacht trip with pals.
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, which covers 344,000sq km, is home to about 88 species of sharks, including bull and tiger sharks.
What are drum lines and how do they protect swimmers in Australia?
Before its Shark Control Programme (SCP) was put in place, from 1916 to 1962 there were 36 shark attacks in Queensland, resulting in 19 fatalities.
The SCP relies on nets or drum lines – baited hooks – or a combination of both, to minimise the threat of shark attacks by catching and killing them.
It lowers the risk, but does not provide an impenetrable barrier between sharks and humans, Queensland Government says.
However, as a result of a Federal Court decision in September 2019, changes were made to the locations of this type of shark control equipment in north Queensland.
The court banned shark culling on the Great Barrier Reef after the government lost its appeal for the right to use drum lines to catch and kill sharks to protect swimmers.
This happened after the Humane Society challenged the State Government programme in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park area.
The society said the decision was a victory for sharks which would “no longer die senselessly for a misguided sense of security”.
But opponents warned the Prime Minister risked having “blood on his hands” as swimmers would have less protection.
Shark control equipment has been removed from the reef and additional equipment has instead been installed in some locations outside the marine park.
However, the area that Alistair Raddon and Danny Maggs were mauled, at Airlie Beach, has never been covered by the SCP.
The Queensland Government says: “We recommend you swim at patrolled beaches that have shark control equipment in place.
"It’s important to be aware that sharks inhabit our coastline, as well as estuaries, rivers, creeks, canals and streams”.
Where are the Whitsundays?
- An archipelago of 74 tropical islands, the Whitsundays lie just off the Queensland coast, next to the Great Barrier Reef
- People travel here from all over the world to see the white sands of Whitehaven Beach and the stunning beauty of Heart Reef
- The Great Barrier Reef protects the islands from large swells, making them ideal for sailing, swimming, snorkelling and relaxing on secluded beaches and in hidden bays
- Whitehaven Beach is considered by many to be the most beautiful beach on earth
- The sand is 98 per cent silica, and so white that it can appear unreal
- It is on the uninhabited Whitsunday Island and is only accessible by seaplane, helicopter or boat
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