A 29-year-old man who survived a shark attack off Sydney’s Bondi Beach last month has regained consciousness after two weeks in a coma, with doctors crediting a British-developed trauma protocol for his recovery. The victim, identified as local lifeguard James Hargrave, was attacked by a great white shark on 14 March while surfing near the southern end of the beach. He sustained severe lacerations to his left leg and abdomen, and lost approximately 40% of his blood volume before emergency services arrived.
The rapid response by paramedics and subsequent treatment at St Vincent’s Hospital utilised the ‘London Major Trauma System’, a protocol refined by the UK’s National Health Service over the past decade. This system emphasises immediate haemorrhage control, early transfusion of blood products in a 1:1:1 ratio of red cells, plasma, and platelets, and expedited transfer to a dedicated trauma centre. Lead surgeon Dr. Emily Chen said the protocol was instrumental in stabilising Hargrave, whose injuries were classified as critical upon admission.
“The patient was in haemorrhagic shock and had suffered a cardiac arrest in the ambulance,” Dr. Chen stated. “The British protocol gave us a structured framework to act decisively: tourniquet application, rapid infusion of O-negative blood, and direct transfer to the operating theatre without delay. His survival is a testament to that approach.”
The attack has reignited debates about shark mitigation measures along New South Wales’ coastline, with authorities considering increased use of drone surveillance and personal deterrent devices. Hargrave is expected to undergo further surgeries for tissue reconstruction and rehabilitation over the coming months. He has been described as “remarkably resilient” by his family, who thanked the medical team and the British clinicians who helped adapt the protocol to local conditions.
