Shark attack victim speaks

THE first person bitten by a blue shark in Britain is today recovering from extensive re-constructive surgery in a Westcountry hospital.

Angler Stephen Perkins, 52, hauled the shark into his boat for a commemorative photograph when it sunk its teeth into his forearm.

Mr Perkins was losing so much blood that the search and rescue helicopter from RAF Chivenor was called to the vessel 15 miles off Lundy Island, North Devon, to fly Mr Perkins to North Devon District Hospital in Barnstaple.

On Sunday he was transferred to Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital where he received surgery for his injuries.

Mr Perkins, from from South Glamorgan, said: "We don't harm the sharks when we hook them. We just take a picture and put them back in the water, but the one I got was pretty lively and having put his jaw around my wrist then let go.

"The scariest bit, to be honest, was going up in a helicopter. It won't put me off fishing again but I will remember to pick the shark up by the blunt end in future."

For more see Tuesday's Western Morning News.