A woman has died and a man has been seriously injured He was attacked by a shark while swimming On a remote beach in the Australian state of New South Wales.
Police said the woman, believed to be in her 20s, died at the scene, while the man, also believed to be in his 20s, was taken to a hospital in Newcastle in a serious condition.
Police said paramedics were called to Kylies Beach in Crowdy Bay National Park, about 300 kilometers north of Sydney, on Thursday morning local time.
Authorities praised a bystander who applied a makeshift tourniquet to the man’s leg before paramedics arrived, which “possibly saved his life”.
“The courage of some bystanders in this situation is amazing,” NSW Ambulance Superintendent Josh Smith told reporters.
“Getting yourself out is heroic and obviously it bought us time to get to that male patient.”
The beach has now been closed and police are liaising with experts from the Department of Primary Industries to determine the species of shark involved.
“Smart” drumlines – which lure sharks with barbed hooks so they can be tagged and released again – were also being deployed.
Surf Life Saving NSW said nearby beaches would also be closed for 24 hours while drones surveyed the area.
“This is a terrible tragedy and our deepest sympathies go out to the families of the man and woman involved,” Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steve Pearce said.
“For now, please stay out of the water at nearby beaches and follow lifeguard instructions.”
This is the fifth fatal shark attack in Australia this year. The most recent incident was less than three months ago, when a man died in a rare shark attack off Sydney’s northern beaches.
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