x
Breaking News
More () »

Shark pulls 10-year-old boy from boat during attack off Australia coast

After the 10-year-old boy was suddenly pulled into the water by a shark, his father jumped in after him.
Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
Shark fin above ocean water

A 10-year-old boy is lucky to be alive after a shark "grabbed him" from a boat and attacked him off the coast of Tasmania, Australia. 

The boy was fishing on a six-meter boat with his father and two other men when the attack happened, authorities said. 

After the boy was pulled off the boat, his father jumped into the water after him and the shark swam away. The child suffered lacerations to his arm and cuts to his chest and head, Tasmania officials said

A witness told 9News Australia that the attack happened "all of a sudden." 

Diver Ben Allen told the media outlet that the shark "leap out of the water, hit the side of the boat and snapped the rod clean off in the rod holder, grabbed the boy, all in the one swipe...and pulled him into the water."  

The boy was wearing a life jacket and was transported to the hospital, where he was in "stable" condition. 

Australia has had at least five fatal shark attacks so far this year. 

Last Saturday, a 15-year-old surfer died when he was mauled by a shark while surfing at Wooli Beach, near Grafton, about 370 miles north of Sydney. It was Australia's fifth fatal shark attack this year. 

RELATED: Swimmer grabs shark with bare hands in video at Delaware beach

RELATED: Shark attack kills 26-year-old surfer in California

It's unusual for Australia to have five fatal shark attacks in the first six months of a year. On average, three people die from shark attacks each year in the country, according to figures kept by the Australian Shark Attack File. The last time there were five fatal attacks in an entire year was 2014.

RELATED: Always a bigger fish: Wreckfish devouring shark is caught on video

 The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Before You Leave, Check This Out