THE hero mates of a young Queensland dad have been credited with saving his life after he was attacked by a shark while spear fishing at a remote reef.

Glenn Dickson, 26, had only just jumped into the water early yesterday at a place known by locals as “The Rock” on the far side of Hinchinbrook Island, near Cardwell, when he was mauled by a large shark.

With massive wounds to his right leg and bleeding heavily, Mr Dickson was dragged into the boat by his friends, including one who is an ex-US navy seaman.

Fear of Sharks Spurs Innovation in Australia Fear of Sharks Spurs Innovation in Australia

The friends tied a tourniquet around his thigh to slow the bleeding and took the boat back to Hinchinbrook jetty to meet paramedics.

“They did a sterling effort,” Martin Taylor, officer in charge at Cardwell ambulance station said.

“From what I’ve been told he was in the water, he’s been hit, they’ve heard a noise, they’ve dragged him in as soon as they’ve realised what’s gone on.

“There was a large wound to his leg. Whatever (shark species) it was, it was quite big.

“They were quite shaken up but without their actions it could have been a lot worse.

“The initial actions by the three friends have definitely saved this gentleman’s life.”

media_camera The attack occurred off Hinchinbrook Island.

The boat was met by crews from Queensland Ambulance Service and the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service, who rushed Mr Dickson to a nearby sports field where a helicopter was waiting.

Once on board, flight paramedics and a doctor worked to stabilise him and replaced lost blood with on-board emergency stocks.

He was flown to Cairns Hospital, where distressed family members met him at the landing pad.

As he was being wheeled into the hospital, Mr Dickson called out, asking for his family.

“They were able to talk to him, and they do say he is an avid spear fisherman and he’s been doing it for quite some time,” ambulance spokesman Neil Noble said. “They are just totally blown away.

“It’s one of those cases where they don’t believe it could happen to them and unfortunately it has.”

media_camera The shark victim arrives at Cairns to be transferred to Cairns Hospital. Picture: Brian Cassey

Mr Noble said it was a “remarkable” story of survival.

“This gentleman came so close to death in such a remote location,” he said.

“But with the systems in place, having people on the boat who knew what to do, and doing that very quickly, having the paramedics at the ready and the rescue helicopter carrying blood ... to fly him to Cairns hospital in such a quick space of time – this is a really remarkable story.

“We’re really pleased this gentleman will likely have a positive outcome.”

Mr Dickson’s mates are understood to have told authorities the shark was either a bull or a tiger species.

The fortunate spearfisherman is a father of two and his partner Jessie is expecting their third child.