HUNTER New England Health is investigating how a grisly hospital photograph of a shark attack victim was released widely on the internet.
The photo purportedly shows Glen ‘‘Lenny’’ Folkard being treated at John Hunter Hospital.
Mr Folkard, 44, was bitten by a shark while surfing at Redhead Beach last Wednesday afternoon.
T he photo, which spread online after being posted on Facebook on Friday, shows hospital staff tending to a patient with a chunk of flesh loosely attached to his right buttocks and thigh. Surrounding skin appears shredded by what could be shark teeth. The Newcastle Herald has chosen to show only part of the image.
A Hunter New England spokesman initially said the photo was of Mr Folkard and said it may have been uploaded by the victim’s friends.
In response to a further Herald inquiry, a spokeswoman said the image was taken at the John Hunter but declined to identify the patient.
The former said the photo was ‘‘not released’’ by hospital staff and the latter said it was ‘‘not taken’’ by staff.
‘‘Sometimes staff members do take photos for medical purposes but that’s only with the consent of the patient,’’ the spokeswoman said.
The NSW Ambulance Service said paramedics were not responsible.
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