Young boy survives shark attack in Australia

A 10-year-old boy was recovering in hospital after being pulled from a boat by a shark off the coast of a small town in northwest Tasmania on Friday.

The boy was fishing with his father about five kilometres (three miles) off the shore of the historic town of Stanley when the attack occurred.

When the father returned to shore with his son, a number of locals came to their aid, including Diane Maynard.

She said it was a "scary situation" for the family.

Local fisherman David Hursey said the boy was "very lucky" the father acted as quickly as he did.

The area's mayor says he hasn't heard of a shark attack in the area in his 20 years in local government.

The boy is in a stable condition in hospital with cuts to his head, chest and arms, a statement from Ambulance Tasmania said.