A picture of Lauren O’Neill’s mauled leg was leaked on-line after she was bitten by a bull shark on Monday night time, triggering an investigation by St Vincent’s Hospital and NSW Police.
This afternoon, NSW Ambulance launched a press release taking duty for the leak.
“NSW Ambulance sincerely apologises to Ms O’Neill for the breach of her privateness and the extra misery it has brought about her and her family members at this most troublesome time,” a spokesperson stated.
“We spoke with Ms O’Neill’s household this afternoon and knowledgeable them that we consider a NSW Ambulance employees member was chargeable for the breach of her privateness.
“NSW Ambulance takes its affected person privateness obligations very critically and is continuous to analyze this breach to find out the complete particulars of the incident.
“It’s not acceptable to make any additional remark whereas the investigation is ongoing.”
Police confirmed earlier this afternoon that they have been investigating the leak after it was reported that they offered six photographs of O’Neill to the NSW Division of Major Industries.
O’Neill was attacked about 7.45pm on Monday, with emergency companies rapidly dispatching a helicopter to Billyard Avenue in Elizabeth Bay.
O’Neill’s neighbour Fiona Crago, a vet, utilized a tourniquet to stem the bleeding after the assault and O’Neill was rushed to St Vincents Hospital.
The hospital introduced it was investigating after the picture displaying O’Neill’s wounded leg began circulating on-line.
“St Vincent’s takes affected person privateness obligations extraordinarily critically and is investigating this concern as a matter of precedence.
“We now have knowledgeable the affected person of the photographs being taken and circulated on-line. We now have sincerely apologised for any half St Vincent’s performed within the photographs being taken.”
The picture seems to indicate O’Neill’s bloodied leg.
“She needs to thank her heroic and really type neighbours for the vital help they offered her,” O’Neill’s household stated in a press release.
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“Lauren can also be immensely grateful to the New South Wales ambulance paramedics and Kings Cross police for his or her swift and caring actions on the scene.
“She would additionally prefer to thank all of the clinicians at St Vincent’s Hospital, significantly the specialist surgical staff who labored by the night time.
“A possible full restoration is a testomony to their extraordinary abilities.”
O’Neill additionally requested for her privateness to be revered as she recovered.
An evaluation of her accidents discovered them to be in line with a bull shark assault.
