Queensland shark attack victim Justine Barwick, who was fighting for life in hospital a fortnight ago, is returning home to Hobart after showing signs of improvement.
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Mrs Barwick was attacked by a shark while on an annual trip near Cid Harbour, off Whitsunday Island, with her husband and friends on September 19.
The 46-year-old is the operations manager with the Tasmanian community care organisation Family Based Care.
Family Based Care Tasmania chief executive officer Douglass Doherty said Mrs Barwick's recovery in the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital continued to amaze friends and family.
"Over the last five days, Justine has progressed from walking 10 metres on a frame with the assistance of the physiotherapist, to walking unaided on crutches," he said.
"She is now out of hospital gowns and wearing her own clothes."
Her husband, Craig Barwick, said his wife's rehabilitation meant she was able to be transferred from the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital to the Royal Hobart Hospital.
"We have achieved a number of rehabilitation milestones, but returning back to Tasmania is a significant one, Justine will soon be back in Hobart with her family around her," he said.
Mr Doherty said Mrs Barwick wanted to thank all the staff, nurses, allied health professionals and doctors and specialists who have contributed to the success of her recovery so far.
Mrs Barwick suffered severe leg and torso injuries when she was mauled by a shark in Cid Harbour, off Whitsunday Island, as she swam with her husband and friends.
One of the first paramedics at the scene credited the quick actions of a doctor, Mackay Base Hospital emergency department doctor John Hadok, who was on a nearby vessel with saving her life.
RACQ CQ Rescue crewman Ben McCauley said the shark had taken a "huge chunk" from the inside of Mrs Barwick's leg.
"She did suffer a lot of blood loss. There was quite a lot of blood around the boat," he said.
"We were told there was arterial bleeding ... quite a big chunk of the leg taken, a few small puncture wounds on her calf muscle."
Mrs Barwick was pulled from the water by her husband, transferred to a yacht and moved to a dinghy to be winched up by a rescue helicopter dispatched from the coastal town of Proserpine, about 50 kilometres south-west of the Whitsundays.
"The people on scene who got her aboard that yacht and quickly packed the gaping
wound to help stem the haemorrhaging undoubtedly saved her life," Mr McCauley said.
The quick actions of emergency department doctor John Hadok helped save the life of the Tasmanian tourist.
"She was very scared, cold and in shock - in and out of consciousness. She’s very lucky to be alive," he said.
-with Ruth McCosker
