A swimmer has died after suffering “catastrophic injuries” due to a shark attack at a beach in Sydney, Australia.
According to authorities, emergency services were called to Buchan Point, Malabar, off Little Bay Beach around 4:35pm on Wednesday after reports indicated that a swimmer had been attacked by a shark, as per CNN.
Officials and surf lifesavers searched the area and “located human remains in the water”. The death is the first fatal shark attack in Sydney since 1963.
Four ambulance crews and a rescue helicopter with a critical care doctor and paramedic were immediately dispatched to the scene, however, when crews arrived they were unable to help the swimmer, reports The Guardian.
Little Bay beach remains closed as police continue to search following a fatal shark attack this afternoon. @GuardianAus pic.twitter.com/1cR5yzMHum
— Tamsin Rose (@tamsinroses) February 16, 2022
Bystanders stated that the swimmer had been mauled by a 14-foot shark and their blood had coloured the surrounding water red. Footage of the incident has since made the rounds on social media and clearly shows a body being dragged underwater by the shark before the unidentified swimmer’s body resurfaces. The attack reportedly lasted several seconds.
WARNING! The video below contains graphic content and is not for sensitive viewers.
*NSFW* (Graphic violence, blood, gore)
Man eaten by shark caught on uncensored video in Sydney, Australia. The first fatal shark attack in almost 60 years pic.twitter.com/AxkLYErvmW
— Viral Shid (@ViralShid) February 17, 2022
“Unfortunately, this person had suffered catastrophic injuries as a result of the attack and there were nothing paramedics could do when we arrived on scene,” NSW Ambulance inspector Lucky Phrachanh said.
Little Beach has since been closed as officials continue to search the area. The traumatic incident hits close to home as a number of sharks have been spotted along the Cape’s coast in the last few months. Thankfully, officials remain vigilant and Cape Town beaches remain safe.
Also read:
Look! Cape Town photographer captures the “biggest great white shark I have ever seen”
Picture: Twitter