A MELBOURNE Aquarium diver narrowly avoided serious injury when a shark bit her face during feeding time. The woman, in her 30s, suffered at least three lacerations to the right side of her mouth this morning at an exhibit that is home to dozens of sharks.
She's very lucky, said paramedic Kelly Mercer.
She's lucky it wasn't on her nose or her eyes or her lips.
The diver was taken to hospital in a stable condition after being treated.
Melbourne Aquarium declined to provide any further comment beyond a prepared statement, which stressed that the woman had suffered a superficial facial wound from a 40cm tawny nurse shark that did not have sharp teeth.
While we adhere to best practice operating procedures for the care and management of animals at the aquarium, the nature of our business is such that these types of incidents will happen from time to time, the statement said.
Last year, two divers were stabbed by stingray barbs in separate incidents.
A 37-year-old woman's right hand was struck by a barb in May while four months later a man was stung while accidentally kneeling on one of the animals.
The aquarium promotes itself as an approved operator for interactive shark dives and walks with feeding times occurring at least twice a day.
Experience the ultimate adrenaline rush of coming face-to-face with a shark, one of the most feared creatures of the deep, the aquarium's website says.
Take the plunge inside Melbourne Aquarium's 2.2 million litre Oceanarium ... if you dare!
AAP
