The 46-year-old from Tasmania was swimming near a charter yacht in the world-famous Whitsunday Islands at the time of the attack which left her with significant leg and torso injuries reports Xinhua news agency.
Authorities said the extent of the woman s injuries mean she was "lucky" to be alive mostly due to an emergency room doctor who happened to be on a nearby boat and the rapid assistance of a medical response helicopter which was also nearby.
The woman was transported by helicopter to Mackay Base Hospital where she remains in a critical condition.
--IANS ksk
