Tragic End for Champion Swimmer in Australian Waters
A talented Swiss synchronised swimmer has met a tragic end after being mauled by a bull shark during an early morning swim off the coast of New South Wales. Livia Mühlheim, 25, lost her life in the attack that occurred on Thursday at Kylies Beach in Crowdy Bay, south of Port Macquarie.
Ms Mühlheim had been swimming with her boyfriend, Lukas Schindler, 26, in unpatrolled waters when the three-metre shark struck. Moments before the attack, the accomplished swimmer had been capturing footage of herself swimming with dolphins using a GoPro camera.
Heroic Rescue Attempt and Survivor's Story
Mr Schindler, who had recently qualified as a diving instructor, demonstrated remarkable bravery during the terrifying ordeal. Witnessing the attack on his girlfriend, he swam towards the shark and began punching the massive predator repeatedly in an attempt to save her.
The shark then turned its attention to Mr Schindler, latching onto his right leg and biting him twice. Despite his injuries, he managed to bring his girlfriend back to shore, retrieve his phone and call emergency services.
A passerby discovered the injured exchange student and, guided by paramedics over the phone, used swimmers to create a makeshift tourniquet for his leg. Authorities confirmed that this quick thinking likely saved Mr Schindler's life. He remained in stable condition at John Hunter Hospital on Friday.
Celebrating a Life Dedicated to Water
Ms Mühlheim had an extraordinary connection to water from her earliest years. She began synchronised swimming as a child and eventually progressed to judging artistic swimming competitions. Her Swiss club, Swim Regio Solothurn, released a heartfelt statement mourning her loss.
'It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of Livia Mühlheim, former artistic swimmer and active judge,' the club's statement read. 'She died in Australia – in her beloved element, the water.'
The young woman had achieved significant success in her sport, coming runner-up with her sync partner Mara Bachl in the technical duet competition at the 2019 Swiss Nationals.
Beyond her aquatic achievements, Ms Mühlheim was academically accomplished, having earned a Master's in Accounting and Finance from the University of St Gallen. She had recently begun working at Zurich-based financial firm Bellecapital AG in May 2024, rising from junior to investment associate.
Her professional experience included seasonal work as a security operator at the World Economic Forum and an internship at KPMG Deutschland.
Ongoing Investigation and Shark Hunt
Police are currently reviewing the GoPro footage captured in the lead-up to the attack, and a report is being prepared for the coroner. Authorities have launched a major operation to track down the three-metre shark, deploying drones and drum lines along the beach.
According to other campers at the site, the couple had only arrived at their Mid North Coast campsite late on Wednesday night. They set off for their morning swim at the unpatrolled beach early the next day.
Mr Schindler had completed his diving instructor's course at a Bondi dive centre and had served as a first lieutenant in the Swiss Armed Forces, according to his online posts.
Police have confirmed they are in contact with the Consulate General of Switzerland in Sydney to notify the couple's family abroad of the tragic incident.
