Woman rescued by navy after suspected shark attack off Mackay

A Navy ship has rescued a woman after a suspected shark attack about 10 hours off the Mackay coast in north Queensland.

Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) says the 50-year-old woman was snorkeling on Wednesday afternoon when she was bitten by a shark and returned to her boat.

QAS was alerted by the Ministry of Defense at around 4.30pm.

HMAS Warramunga, which was in the Whitsundays for a training exercise, diverted from its course to pick up the woman.

Navy personnel on board applied a tourniquet and transported her to the mainland, arriving at Mackay Harbor at around 12.30pm this morning when the ship was met by waiting paramedics.

Mackay Hospital and Health Services said the woman was treated for cuts to her leg after a suspected shark bite and was in a stable condition.