A 12-year-old girl, thought to be a New Zealander, is lucky to be alive after being attacked by a shark in northern Queensland.

She's in a critical condition after mauled in the Whitsunday Islands yesterday afternoon.

A 46-year-old woman is also in a critical condition, after being mauled in the same place the day before.

Correspondent Sam Emery told Mike Hosking the girl had been holidaying with her father and sister when she was attacked.

"A doctor and paramedic were transferred to the boat to stabilise her and her father accompanied her on the rescue helicopter."

Emery says the girl is lucky to be alive.

"The operations manager for Queensland Ambulance has come out and said the first aid just did an absolutely marvellous job and that is why she was able to get away and is still alive."

The attack occurred at Cid Harbour, about 10 kilometres from Hamilton Island, 1.45pm yesterday local time

She lost a lot of blood yesterday, and is currently at MacKay Base Hospital.

LISTEN TO SAM EMERY TALK WITH MIKE HOSKING ABOVE