On Thursday morning, 5 March 2026, a man in his fifties was airlifted to hospital by a rescue helicopter after a shark attack off Lady Elliot Island. The incident occurred while snorkelling on the shallow reef on the west side of the island – the southernmost point of the Great Barrier Reef.
What happened?
The man was in the water with two companions when he was bitten by a shark at around 8am. The three men were not guests of the Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort, but were in the area independently. After the attack, all three swam back to shore and alerted resort staff.
According to the Queensland Ambulance Service, the injured man suffered a deep laceration to his right arm as well as superficial injuries to his abdomen and hand. An emergency doctor and a paramedic treated him at the scene before he was stabilised and flown to Bundaberg Base Hospital.
Resort response
The Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort confirmed the incident in a press release and said that staff provided immediate assistance and coordinated emergency care. The statement also said:
- The island’s western snorkelling zones have been closed until further notice.
- All in-house resort guests have been informed.
- Resort staff and marine experts are monitoring the closed zone.
- The species of shark involved in the attack has not yet been identified.
Lady Elliot Island: a place with abundant marine life
Lady Elliot Island is located around 85 kilometres northeast of Bundaberg and is considered one of Australia’s most species-rich snorkelling areas. On the island website it is noted that around 30 different species of shark are regularly sighted in the surrounding waters – including hammerhead sharks and tiger sharks, particularly on the island’s west side. Previous reports also mention great white sharks as occasional visitors to the region.
Increase in shark attacks in Australia
The incident is part of a series of shark attacks that have shaken Australia in recent months. As early as January 2026, fatal attacks occurred in other parts of the country. Authorities and experts emphasise that attacks in reef waters are rare, but snorkellers and swimmers should always exercise caution.