Husband repeatedly punches shark to stop it attacking his wife

A man had to punch a shark to try and stop it from attacking his wife after it launched at her while she was snorkelling. 

Frankie Gonsalves had been snorkelling with her husband just off Ascension Island in the South Atlantic when she was attacked by the huge shark on Saturday afternoon.

Her husband, who has not been named, immediately launched at the beast and started punching it until it finally released her.

Yet it then turned on him, launching itself on to his body.

Luckily, he managed to fight it off and the couple were taken to Georgetown Hospital for treatment.

It is unclear how serious her injuries are but she was reportedly bitten on her leg.

A source told The Times: ‘She was bitten on the leg. Her husband had to punch the shark off her. It then went for him.’

Ms Gonsalves is due to be airlifted to the UK for further treatment.

Ascension Island is a self-governing British territory which lies around 700 miles northwest of St Helena.

In a statement, the St Helena Government said: ‘We can confirm that a member of staff has been involved in an incident on Ascension Island.

‘The person concerned was swimming near the shore and her injuries were attended to at the Georgetown Hospital.

‘An emergency aero-medical flight is being arranged to transport the patient from Ascension Island to receive medical treatment in the UK.

‘Ascension Island Government has released a warning notice advising people that swimming in the area is to be undertaken at their own risk.’