A British backpacker had his foot bitten off and his friend was seriously injured in a shark attack off the Great Barrier Reef.
Alistair Raddon, 28, from Southampton, lost his foot while swimming off Hook Island in eastern Auatralia.
Danny Maggs , 22, from Plymouth, suffered lacerations to his right calf in the aquatic assault.
The pair had been swimming at a popular tourist spot on the Whitsunday Islands chain at around 10am on Tuesday.
Tour company ZigZag Whitsundays confirmed two men were hurt while on one of the company's trips.
"We are saddened to confirm that two of our guests were injured in a shark attack this morning," a spokesperson said.
Do you know Alistair Raddon or Danny Maggs? Did you witness the attack? Email webnews@trinitymirror.com
"Our thoughts are with them, their families and the other guests on the tour.
"We are working with authorities to assist in any way we can. We have suspended our tours for today and will work closely with authorities regarding our upcoming tours."
Fortunately two passengers on board ZigZag's boat - which was close to Mr Raddon and Mr Maggs - were paramedics.
They provided the Brits with emergency first aid.
"Immediate counselling support was arranged for the passengers and crew, their welfare is also our priority," the company spokesperson continued.
"We would also like to commend the lightning response of our first responders and emergency services.
"Their efforts have ensured the two people have been able to receive expert medical treatment very quickly."
RACQ Rescue helicopter service tweeted: "An English tourist has had his foot bitten off and another has serious lacerations to his lower leg after a shark attack in the Whitsundays today."
The attack took place during a debate about shark control in the area.
In April the Administrative Appeals Tribunal upheld a challenge to a shark control program using nets and drumlines to catch and kill sharks brought in the Great Barrier Reef marine park brought by the Humane Society.
The tribunal ruled the Queensland Government could not show the the lethal component of the method reduced the risk of unprovoked shark attacks.
It is not thought that drumlines were used where the men were attacked yesterday.
There have been numerous shark attacks in the Whitsunday island group in recent years, including a fatal incident at Cid Harbour involving a 33-year-old man last November.
Tourist Daniel Christidis died in hospital after being attacked while paddleboarding and swimming in the Whitsunday Islands in Queensland.
