Surfer in Sydney dies after fatal shark attack
A surfer at a popular beach in Sydney has died after a suspected “large shark” according to Australian police. The 57-year-old had been surfing with friends in the Pacific waters by northern Sydney’s Long Reef and Dee Why beaches when the attack took place.
The man was an experienced surfer and, according to New South Wales police, lost a “number of limbs” in the attack.
“I do understand that both him and his board disappeared underwater,” New South Wales police superintendent John Ducan said. “The body was found floating in the surf.”
Other surfers had seen the man in the water and brought him to shore, according to Duncan. “Unfortunately, by that time, we understand he lost probably a lot of blood and attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful,” he said.
Experts from Australia’s government will examine both the man’s body and the remains of the surfboard, hoping to determine what species of shark had been involved.
Western Australia is home to around 100 shark species, according to SharkSmart, a website run by officials in the country, warning about their activity and giving advice on how to stay safe in the water. Many of the species are able to cause injury to people but the “overwhelming majority” are not aggressive in most situations. The majority of attacks come from great whites, bull sharks, and tiger sharks.
Nearby beaches were closed for 24 hours following the incident and drones and surf lifesavers on water skis patrolled the area to look for shark activity.
Fatal attacks are rare. 2024 saw only seven worldwide according to the International Shark Attack File, a database from the Florida Museum of Natural History and University of Florida.
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