Canberra, Oct 29 (IANS): Two British tourists have been seriously injured in a shark attack on Tuesday at a popular holiday spot in Australia.

The men, aged 22 and 28, were swimming in Queensland's Whitsunday Islands when they were attacked, reports the BBC.

The shark had severed the older man's foot and left the other tourist with leg wounds, paramedics said.

"One of the male patients was attacked first and the shark is believed to have returned and come back and attacked the second patient," a Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman said.

They were taken by a tour boat to shore and initially treated there, before being flown to hospital in a stable condition.

The Whitsunday Islands - near the Great Barrier Reef - have seen other shark attacks in recent times.

Tuesday's attack occurred at Hook Passage, about 10 km from where an Australian man was fatally bitten by a shark last November.

The islands also saw two other attacks within 24 hours in September 2018. Both victims survived, although one - a 12-year-old girl - later had a leg amputated.

In response to those incidents, authorities culled six sharks in the area and installed drum lines - baited hooks which are suspended underwater.

The drum lines were later removed due to their impact on other marine life.