Pregnant Aussie’s tendons severed in “shark attack’

PHUKET: The pregnant Queenslander who was attacked in the shallow waters of Phuket, by what experts believe was most likely a shark, will remain in the care of doctors for several more days.

Bangkok Hospital Phuket doctors have explained to Jane Neame, 6-months pregnant, that she needs to remain under observation to ensure there are no infections following her surgery.

“It’s very painful,” Ms Neame said from her hospital bed with her boyfriend, Robert Passmore, by her side. “It severed my tendon. The fish took it away.”

Ms Neame pointed to two droopy toes on her left foot that are no longer being held up by tendons to illustrate her point.

“The doctor is very good, really good,” Ms Neame said, clearly impressed by the quality of care she was receiving.

The attack yesterday occurred on the couples third day in Phuket, as they went down for their morning swim. Ms Neame was in waist-deep water, about where the waves were breaking, when she was bitten.

“I may have stood on it, and then it bit me. It’s hard to say because it bit underneath my foot and on top,” Ms Neame said.

“I felt it tear at me. It felt like a shark,” she said after being told that experts believe it was most likely a shark attack. “I’m from Queensland, so we have sharks there. I wouldn’t have expected sharks to be here.”

Ms Neame cried out for help and was immediately rescue by Mr Passmore, who carried her to the safety of the beach.

“I’m pregnant, so I didn’t want to get too anxious, I wanted to stay calm,” Ms Neame said.

Though the couple will be spending the majority of their week-long holiday in Phuket at the hospital, Ms Neame said that incident was not a deterrent for them returning.

“I’m not scared. I love the ocean,” she said.

— Kongleaphy Keam