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Diver injured in shark attack off Tasmania coast
On Saturday, a 31-year-old diver was bitten by a shark off Bruny Island, Tasmania, while spearfishing near Coal Point, Adventure Bay.
Witnesses reported the group was "spearfishing on scuba" and retrieving a fish when attacked; authorities believe a 2-metre broadnose sevengill shark, a species known to scavenge on other sharks, was responsible.
Police Inspector Darren Latham confirmed "he sustained non-life-threatening injuries to his lower forearm" and was airlifted to Royal Hobart Hospital by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter in stable condition.
The police vessel Dauntless is patrolling the area with no further shark sightings reported. Inspector Latham urged divers to "remain vigilant, follow local safety advice and be aware of their surroundings."
While shark encounters remain statistically rare, the Australian Shark Incident Database reports a gradual rise in incidents, averaging nearly 29 per year over the last decade versus roughly 16 per year in the 2000s.