A family reeling from a "traumatic" shark attack at Stanley has spoken publically about the incident for the first time.
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The attack saw 10-year-old Lucas Arnott "grabbed" by a shark while he was fishing in a boat with his father John around five kilometres off the coast.
The boy's grandfather David said the family was "all suffering a bit of anxiety and stress" in the wake of the attack.
David said the group was "not cleaning fish" at the time of the attack and speculation to the contrary was "unhelpful".
MORE ON THE ATTACK
"As has been reported, a shark unprovoked and undetected before the attack jumped out of the water and grabbed Lucas, pulling him over the side of the boat into the water," he said.
"John recovered Lucas from the water, he was brought ashore at Stanley.
"We are grateful to those who helped administer first aid until the paramedics arrived. Lucas had surgery at Launceston general Hospital on Friday night. His condition is stable."
David said the family did not want to discuss at present when Lucas would be released from hospital or what long-term impact the attack would have on him.
He said the family "just want to get Lucas home and work through his issues".
"As you would understand it was a shock to all those involved, a shock to our family," David said.
"It's taken a while for us to actually digest what's happened and we just ask for some privacy at this time."
David said he wanted to thank the staff at the North West Regional Hospital and the Launceston General Hospital for "looking after all of the family".
He also thanked "those people at Stanley for their support".
"It's what I expect of small communities, looking after each other...," he said.
"We'd just like to go home and just relax and sort out a few things."