A woman has died and a man has been seriously injured after being attacked by a large bull shark at Kylies Beach in Crowdy Bay, New South Wales, on Thursday morning. The pair, both in their 20s, were swimming together when the shark bit them, according to police.
Emergency services were called to the scene at approximately 6:30am. The woman died at the scene, while the man sustained serious injuries to his leg. A bystander applied a makeshift tourniquet, which paramedics credited with potentially saving his life. He was airlifted to John Hunter Hospital in a critical condition and has since improved to a serious but stable condition.
The Department of Primary Industries confirmed that forensic analysis indicated a large bull shark was likely involved. Bull sharks are often found close to shore in warmer waters, increasing the likelihood of encounters with swimmers, said Rob Harcourt, emeritus professor of marine ecology at Macquarie University. The department deployed five smart drumlines to the area, which could help capture the shark.
Kylies Beach, a remote stretch of coastline accessible only by unsealed roads, was unpatrolled and lacked shark-detection technology. Surf Life Saving NSW closed the beach and nearby areas for at least 24 hours, with drones monitoring for further activity. The organisation expressed condolences and urged the public to stay out of the water in the vicinity.
This incident marks the fifth shark bite fatality in Australia this year. Fatalities have become less common per capita over the past century due to faster emergency responses and improved first aid, but shark bites overall have increased in the last two decades, attributed to factors such as coastal population growth and climate change.
