A paramedic was responsible for leaking sensitive photos of aSydney Harbour shark attackvictim on social media, NSW Ambulance has confirmed.
Lauren O'Neill, 29, went for a swim at Elizabeth Bay in Sydney's eastern suburbs about 7.45pm on Monday evening when she was mauled by a bull shark.
She narrowly survived after managing to clamber up a jetty ladder and was saved by the frantic efforts of neighbours, with one calling Triple Zero and a vet applying bandages.
It was revealed last night that a photo of Ms O'Neill at St Vincent's Hospital, showing her severely injured leg and emergency services workers, was circulating on social media - with the privacy breach infuriating hospital bosses.
Lauren O'Neill narrowly survived a bull shark bite as she went for a dip in Sydney Harbour on Monday evening
Ms O'Neill is pictured on a stretcher just moments after being attacked by the shark
Police officers provided images of her injuries to government scientists at the NSW Department of Primary Industries who were investigating the bite,
However, a government spokesperson said the images were securely stored and insisted they weren't shared with anyone other than a handful of specialists, in order to identify the shark's breed.
NSW Ambulance issued a statement on Thursday evening sincerely apologising for the privacy breach and revealed that it was one of its staff who leaked it.
'NSW Ambulance sincerely apologises to Ms O'Neill for the breach of her privacy and the additional distress it has caused her and her loved ones at this most difficult time,' a NSW Ambulance spokesperson said.
'We spoke with Ms O'Neill's family this afternoon and informed them that we believe a NSW Ambulance staff member was responsible for the breach of her privacy.
'NSW Ambulance takes its patient privacy obligations very seriously and is continuing to investigate this breach to determine the full details of the incident.
'It is not appropriate to make any further comment while the investigation is ongoing.'
NSW Police and the DPI were approached for comment.
St Vincent's Hospital declined to comment.
A photo of a Ms O'Neill's gruesome injury has leaked onto social media
A government spokesperson told the Herald that the images of Ms O'Neill (pictured) were securely stored and weren't shared with anyone other than a handful of specialists
Ms O'Neill was attacked near a jetty in Elizabeth Bay in Sydney Harbour (map pictured)
David Faktor, a spokesman for the hospital, said in a statement earlier this week:'St Vincent's has become aware of photos in the public domain that appear to have been taken in the Emergency Department and are related to those of a patient injury.
'St Vincent's takes patient privacy obligations extremely seriously and is investigating this issue as a matter of priority.
'We have sincerely apologised for any part St Vincent's played in the photos being taken.'
Ms O'Neill's limb was saved by a team of expert surgeons at St Vincent's Hospital who operated on her several times throughout Monday night into Tuesday morning.
She is now expected to make a full recovery.
Residents who provided first aid at Sydney's Elizabeth Bay said Ms O'Neill had been swimming outside a 'netted harbour pool', and was 'swimming around the boats'.
Ms O'Neill (pictured) broke her silence on Wednesday to thank those who saved her
One resident said there was 'blood everywhere' and that Ms O'Niell's leg was 'trailing behind her' in the water. A blood-stained boardwalk is pictured at the scene
SHARK VICTIM LAUREN O'NEILL'S FULL MEDIA STATEMENT
Lauren was taking a short dip close to the shore when she was bitten by a shark.
She wishes to thank her heroic and very kind neighbours for the critical assistance they provided her.
Lauren is also immensely grateful to the NSW Ambulance paramedics and Kings Cross Police for their swift and caring actions at the scene.
She would also like to thank all the clinicians at St Vincent's Hospital, particularly the specialist surgical teams who worked through the night. Her likely full recovery is testament to their extraordinary skills.
Finally, Lauren would like to thank her beautiful family, friends and colleagues for their unflinching care and support.
She would also like to thank the public for their outpouring of support and kindness, and as she turns to focusing on her recovery, asks that her privacy, and that of her family's be respected.
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Trolls online shared little sympathy for Ms O'Niell, who they criticised for swimming at duskwith low light and visibility.
'If you grow up near an ocean, then you understand that the most dangerous time to swim is dusk and dawn,' one said.
Others who jumped to her defence said 'all these self-righteous people make me sick'.
'My god, people - she is an unfortunate person who has life-threatening injuries - does it make you feel any better to put her down,' one person wrote.
Elizabeth Bay resident Michael Porter, who rang triple zero for Ms O'Neill, said that her injuries were severe.
'Her leg was sort of trailing behind her, and the water behind her was all red with blood,' he said.
He added despite being in a 'complete state of shock' from the trauma of the attack, Ms O'Neill was 'very lucid'.
'People were holding her hand and helping her and she was extremely brave the whole time.'
Early on Wednesday, the hospital released a statement on Ms O'Neill's behalf, to thank 'the heroic and very kind neighbours for the critical assistance provided'.
Ms O'Neill, who works for the NSW government in the Department of Climate Change, highlighted the care of 'clinicians at St Vincent's Hospital, particularly the specialist surgical teams who worked through the night'.
She also thanked her 'beautiful family, friends and colleagues for their unflinching care and support'.
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Mr Petersson told Daily Mail Australia he felt safe swimming in Elizabeth Bay despite recent warnings: 'I don't go in very far, just a few laps between the marina and the pier'
