A woman has died and a man is seriously injured following a shark attack at a remote beach in Australia.
The pair, aged in their mid-twenties, were taking an early morning swim at a beach in New South Wales, on Australia’s east coast, at about 6.30am on Thursday local time (7.30pm Wednesday GMT) when they were attacked by a suspected bull shark.
Emergency services were called to Crowdy Bay near Kylies Beach, approximately 360 kilometres north of Sydney, shortly after.
“They were known to each other, and they were going for a swim and the shark attacked,” New South Wales Police inspector Timothy Bayly said.
A quick-thinking bystander applied a makeshift tourniquet to the injured man’s leg, potentially saving his life, before paramedics arrived.
He was airlifted to John Hunter Hospital in the city of Newcastle, where he remains in a stable but serious condition.
State ambulance inspector Josh Smyth praised the actions of the bystander.
“The courage from bystanders in this situation is amazing. To put yourself out there is very heroic.”
Crowdy Bay is a remote beach destination known for its beach camping, fishing spots and hiking tracks.
Steven Pearce, Surf Life Saving NSW’s chief executive, told local radio station 2GB the area was very remote, with “no lifeguarding services at all”.
Insp Bayly said families of the victim were still being contacted.
Bull shark likely behind ‘rare’ attack
Authorities believe that a bull shark – one of the deadliest species of the deep-sea predator – was most likely involved in the attack.
Assessments are typically made by examining bite marks, animal behaviour, any recent sightings or ocean conditions leading up to the incident.
Police expected smart drumlines – baited hooks suspended from floats – to be deployed in an attempt to catch it.
According to experts, sharks rarely attack more than one person, making the incident particularly rare.
“Individual shark attacks are rare. And shark attacks on two people by the same individual is not unheard of, but it’s very rare,” Gavin Naylor, director of the University of Florida’s shark research program, said.
This is the fifth fatal shark attack in Australia this year, the most recent occurring less than three months ago on Sydney’s northern beaches.
Authorities have closed Crowdy Bay and nearby beaches while investigations continue.
