A shark expert has issued an urgent safety warning following a tragic incident that claimed the life of a Swiss tourist and left her boyfriend critically injured on New South Wales' Mid North Coast.
Tragic Morning Swim Turns Deadly
Emergency services rushed to the remote Kylies Beach at Crowdy Bay, south of Port Macquarie, around 6.30am on Thursday after reports of a shark attack. Despite heroic efforts from bystanders who witnessed the horrifying scene, the 25-year-old woman succumbed to her injuries before paramedics could reach the remote location.
Her 26-year-old boyfriend was airlifted to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle, where he remains in a serious but stable condition. Disturbing details emerged on Friday that the couple were filming dolphins using a GoPro camera when they were attacked by what authorities believe was a three-metre bull shark.
Police have reviewed the GoPro footage, which reportedly captured dolphins swimming in the area mere seconds before the violent attack occurred.
Dolphin Safety Myth Exposed by Expert
Bond University shark expert Dr Daryl McPhee told Daily Mail that one of the most dangerous misconceptions among swimmers is believing that dolphins provide protection from sharks. "Unfortunately, it is a myth," he stated bluntly, explaining that the presence of dolphins often indicates sharks are nearby.
"When there are dolphins around, it often means you have got a source of fish around, which may also be food for sharks," Dr McPhee elaborated. "Sharks also prey on dolphins as well."
Alarming Increase in Surface Shark Bites
Dr McPhee revealed concerning statistics about the rising trend of shark attacks on the water's surface, officially recorded as 'bites'. "Between 1980 and 1999 there were only three bites in NSW but between 2010 and 2019, there were 30 of them. That demonstrates the increasing trend," he said.
The national figures show an even more dramatic increase. Australia recorded only six surface bites with two fatalities between 1980 and 1989. However, from 2000 to 2009, there were 26 bites with three fatalities, followed by 53 bites with seven fatalities between 2010 and 2019.
Dr McPhee identified several factors contributing to this surge, primarily the increased number of people entering the water. While population trends for the three main shark species responsible for bites - white, tiger and bull sharks - remain unknown, climate change is driving bull sharks into warmer waters.
"Bull sharks are spending more time in the Greater Sydney region," he noted. "That's also projected to increase."
Essential Shark Safety Advice
Dr McPhee shared crucial safety tips for swimmers this summer:
- Swim at patrolled beaches between the flags, especially during summer months when bull sharks are more active
- Avoid swimming near obvious schools of fish that attract other marine predators
- Stay approximately one kilometre away from river mouths and avoid dirty or flood waters
- Exit the water smoothly and quickly if a shark is spotted
Following the tragedy, NSW Surf Rescue's James Turner emphasised that this incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks involved when swimming at non-patrolled beaches. "This is in a nice, secluded area where people go to swim. We want them to be aware of the risk in non-patrolled locations," he warned.
