Horror as grandmother kicks away shark after it mauls her leg leaving her covered in blood | World | News

A grandmother managed to escape from the grip of a shark by reportedly kicking the animal away.

Pamela Cook, 64, was enjoying her daily morning swim around the jetty in the South Australia‘s town of Beachport when she was mauled by a shark.

The animal, which attacked the grandmother on Monday at approximately 7.45am local time, first gripped her foot before it started sinking its teeth into her thigh.

After reportedly kicking the shark away, Mrs Cook sought the help of her friends who had joined her for the morning swim, who rushed to hold her and apply pressure on the wound.

Witnesses recalled seeing Mrs Cook’s friends covered in blood as they pleaded for help to carry the grandmother out of the water.

Among them, construction workers who were operating on the jetty “jumped in” the water and later supported Mrs Cook with their first aid equipment.

Greg Rae told broadcaster ABC: “We immediately just jumped in, went and grabbed our trauma gear and first aid equipment.

“The big concern for me at the time was shock, so just keeping her talking and keeping her assured.”

Locals Silvana and Mishelle Jewell recalled their horror as they witnessed the incident unfolding.

Silvana said: “We went running down the jetty and I said to Mishelle, ‘Call an ambulance’. We’ve never heard of a shark down here. It was horrifying, just horrifying.”

Mrs Cook, who works at a local pub, was taken to Mount Gambier Hospital – located an hour away from the jetty – in serious condition.

Local authorities have launched a drone search to identify the shark that carried out the attack.

Mrs Cook’s attacker is believed to have been a juvenile Great White, one of the most aggressive types of sharks in the world.

Australian media outlet 9News reported the shock of people living in the area at the appearance of a shark in the area.

Over the past three decades, South Australia has seen 15 people mauled to death by sharks, while Mrs Cook has become the seventh victim of a serious shark attack in Australia this year alone.

One of the theories linked to the apparent increase in unprovoked shark attacks worldwide says the reduced fish stock, caused by an increase in fishing, is leading sharks to target humans as prey.