Shark attack photo leak twist: New development after image of Sydney Harbour mauling victim in her St Vincent’s Hospital bed ended up on social media

A photo of Sydney Harbor shark attack victim Lauren O’Neill emerged on social media after police officers provided images of her injuries to government scientists investigating the bite.

Lauren O’Neill, 29, went swimming in Elizabeth Bay in Sydney’s eastern suburbs about 7.45pm on Monday evening when she was mauled by a bull shark.

She barely survived after managing to climb up a scaffolding ladder and was rescued by the frantic efforts of neighbors, with someone calling Triple Zero and applying a veterinary bandage.

Last night it was revealed that a photo of Ms O’Neill at St Vincent’s Hospital, showing her injured leg and emergency workers, was circulating on social media – with the invasion of privacy infuriating hospital bosses.

Some photos of the shark bite from hospital have reportedly been sent to the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI), The Sydney Morning Herald reported Thursday evening.

A government spokesperson told the Herald the images had been stored securely and insisted they were not shared with anyone other than a handful of specialists to identify the shark’s breed.

Daily Mail Australia has been told NSW Health will issue a statement this evening. NSW Police and the DPI were contacted for comment.

Sint-Vincentius Hospital declined to comment.

David Faktor, a spokesman for the hospital, said in a statement earlier this week: ‘St Vincent’s has become aware of photographs in the public domain that appear to have been taken in the Emergency Department and are associated with those of an injured patient .

‘St Vincent’s takes patient privacy obligations very seriously and is investigating this matter as a matter of priority.

“We have sincerely apologized for the role St Vincent’s played in the taking of the photographs.”

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