Boy, 11, stable after mauling by shark on the Great Barrier Reef

An 11-year-old boy was in a stable condition in hospital after he was mauled by a shark on the Great Barrier Reef off the Australian east coast, officials said.

The boy was attacked by a black-tipped reef shark on Tuesday afternoon as he waded off a beach at the Heron Island tourist resort northeast of the coastal town of Gladstone, Queensland Ambulance Service paramedic Brad Lawson said.

Officials have not released the victim’s name or commented on media reports that he is an Italian tourist on holiday with his family.