Cook Islands Teen Attacked by Tiger Shark While Spearfishing, Lucky to be Alive

A northern Cook Islands boy is lucky to be alive after being bitten on the leg by a Tiger shark.

The Cook Islands Times says 16-year-old Turua William Maretapu was swimming over the reef into the lagoon at Penrhyn after spearfishing.

He spotted the shark and fired at it.

The shot missed and the shark bit his leg.

The newspaper says luckily others were on the reef nearby and helped him.

They included his uncle, who had been trained in first aid by the Red Cross.

The Cook Islands Times said Turua was rushed to hospital, where the doctor said the first aid probably stopped him bleeding to death.