Pamela Cook, 64, was taken to Mount Gambier hospital in a serious condition on Monday after a shark bit her leg at Beachport on South Australia’s southeast coast.

Husband Greg said she was doing “great” despite several stitches and a long rehab ahead of her.

“Pam said the worst part of the whole thing was the drive from Beachport to Millicent,” he told ABC Radio on Tuesday.

“The roads were atrocious.”

Cook said medical staff were trying to get her up and walking and believed she would be in hospital for four or five days.

“She’ll be fine, she’s tough,” he said.

Police closed the beach on Monday as State Emergency Service crews searched for the offending shark, which has not been identified.

The beach reopened on Tuesday, with scores of holidaymakers still in the area enjoying the school break.

Cook praised the efforts of rescuers who stepped in to get his wife out of the water and administer immediate medical care.

“We’ve got such a vibrant and good community down here,” he said

“Everything went to plan, basically. If you’re going to do a training drill, that’s how it happens.”

The attack comes after a 46-year-old man was killed by a shark in May at Walkers Rock Beach, about 365km west of Adelaide.

– AAP