- A timeline of shark attacks on WA beaches
- Esperance shark attack: Bunbury man Sean Pollard suffers serious injuries
- Esperance shark attack: Did Fisheries catch the right sharks?
- Shark attack victim recovering well in hospital
- Esperance residents rally around shark attack victim
- Bunbury rallies around shark attack victim Sean Pollard
SHARK attack victim Sean Pollard has already set his first goal - to be able to stand and receive a group hug from his family.
The Bunbury man had an arm and a hand bitten off in a shark attack while surfing at Kelp Beds Beach, Wylie Bay, near Esperance about 11am last Thursday.
After being attacked Mr Pollard swum up to 100-metres back to shore before being pulled from the water by Peter Rothnie and Dean Gaebler. The pair, along with other nearby beach-goers including Mr Rothnie's wife Kylie, who was an off-duty paramedic, and Esperance Primary School deputy principal Ross Tamlin, helped provide Mr Pollard's crucial first-response care.
Mr Pollard's uncle Kim Fergusson has said in a statement that the family credited his rescuers with saving the surfer's life.
"We are very appreciative of all the rescuers from Esperance and credit them with saving Sean’s life," Mr Fergusson said.
He said his nephew had undergone his second operation overnight and was recovering in a stable condition at Royal Perth Hospital.
"Sean’s traumatic injuries are being closely monitored by the medical team at Royal Perth Hospital with the recovery plan from each procedure requiring the intervention of many medical professionals," he said.
"What is aiding Sean’s recovery is his physical fitness, as a result of his healthy lifestyle and active sporting interests.
Even though Mr Fergusson said Mr Pollard's injuries were so severe that there would be a long road ahead, he had already set his first goal.
"Sean has said his first goal is to stand and receive a group hug from his family, such is the character of this remarkable young man.”
Mr Pollard's family and his partner Claire are by his side and supporting him.
"We have been overwhelmed with offers of support from the public which has been very comforting. As our focus is totally committed to Sean’s recovery we ask that offers of support are communicated via the Sean Pollard Appeal page on Facebook."
