WA: Shark attack Star of Courage humbling for WA woman

AAP General News (Australia)
08-17-2009
WA: Shark attack Star of Courage humbling for WA woman

Eds: Strictly embargoed until 0001 Monday, August 17,

By Andrea Hayward

PERTH, Aug 17 AAP - It was calm and still the day an Albany woman driven by instinct
swam out to save the life of a fellow surf club member who had been attacked by a shark
off Western Australia's south coast.

Joanne Lucas' bravery in doing so has earned her the Star of Courage, a bravery award
which will presented by the Governor-General Quentin Bryce.

The 54-year-old mother of three had arrived at Middleton Beach, Albany, early on May
10 last year, ahead of a surf club event.

"It was very still and calm, and the sun was shining, and there were dolphins flipping
about, a whole pod of dolphins ..." Ms Lucas said.

But a short time later, a woman ran up the beach telling her a man had been attacked by a shark.

"I said: `No, no, it's the dolphins' and she said: `No it's a shark'," Ms Lucas said.

Ms Lucas said running down to the beach, driven by instinct and adrenalin, she stripped
off her tracksuit pants and swam 80 metres to where fellow surf club member Jason Cull
was critically injured, barely able to swim or tread water.

"It was a completely instinctive thing. I didn't think: `There's a shark out there
maybe I shouldn't go out there'," she said.

"I just thought I've got to get this guy out and I've got to get him back in."

All the while, the shark manoeuvred around the scene, with Ms Lucas fearing the frantic
splashing of two nearby swimmers trying to scare it away would steer the shark toward
her and Mr Cull.

She said she kicked harder and made it to shore where Mr Cull was treated for his injuries.

His leg was completely ripped open from his ankle right up to his knee and he had been
"nipped" on the other knee, Ms Lucas said.

Ms Lucas said she was happy to see Mr Cull now back on his feet and cycling around the place.

Being awarded the star of courage was humbling, she said.

"I'm very honoured and humbled to receive this."

Ms Lucas said she was quickly back on the beach after the attack.

"It hasn't turned me off the ocean at all," she said.

"I actually scan the ocean before I go in now ..."

The governor-general is expected to present the star of courage to Ms Lucas at a ceremony
early next year.

AAP ah/mmr/cdh

KEYWORD: BRAVERY LUCAS EMBARGOED

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