Shark attack kills woman, seriously injures man at Australian beach
A shark attack on Australia’s east coast Thursday morning killed a woman and seriously injured a man while they were swimming together at Crowdy Bay National Park, police said. The park, located 224 miles north of Sydney, is popular for beach camping, fishing, and hiking. Experts noted that attacks involving more than one person are extremely rare.
The incident occurred at Kylies Beach around 6:30 a.m., prompting emergency services to respond. A bystander helped the victims onto the shore before paramedics arrived. The woman, in her mid-20s, was pronounced dead at the scene, while the man was airlifted to a hospital in serious but stable condition. Paramedics praised the bystander for applying a makeshift tourniquet that may have prevented another fatality. Authorities said the couple were Swiss nationals, and the Swiss Consulate General in Sydney is assisting their families.
State scientists later confirmed the attackers were a large bull shark. In response, authorities deployed baited drumlines near Kylies Beach, as well as at nearby beaches, to reduce shark numbers. Police and emergency personnel closed beaches in the area indefinitely.
Shark researchers emphasized the rarity of a single shark attacking multiple people. Gavin Naylor, director of the University of Florida’s shark research program, said such incidents are “very unusual,” noting that further analysis is needed to understand the shark’s behavior. Australia has seen more than 1,280 shark incidents since 1791, with over 250 resulting in death, making the country one of the deadliest for shark encounters.
The attack follows other recent shark incidents, including a fatal mauling of a surfer near Sydney in September and a close encounter experienced by a windsurfer off the west coast earlier this month. Authorities continue to monitor the area and urge residents and visitors to avoid swimming until conditions are deemed safe.
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