A Swiss tourist has been killed in a shark attack on an Australian beach, leaving her partner in a critical condition after he fought desperately to save her life.
Tragic Dawn Swim Turns Deadly
The incident occurred on Thursday at Kylies Beach in Crowdy Bay, near Port Macquarie, approximately 218 miles north of Sydney. The couple, both Swiss citizens believed to be in their 20s, had arrived the night before and were camping nearby.
They went for a swim at dawn, a time when sharks are known to be more active, and were reportedly in the water with dolphins just before the attack. The man sustained major wounds to his thigh as he tried to fight off the shark and then dragged his partner more than 50 metres back to shore.
Heroic Efforts and Emergency Response
Tragically, the woman died on the sand. A passer-by provided critical, life-saving assistance by creating a tourniquet from a swimsuit to stem the severe bleeding from the man's leg, following instructions from emergency call handlers.
New South Wales Ambulance superintendent Josh Smyth described the backpacker's quick thinking as "heroic", stating it created valuable time for paramedics to reach the remote, unpatrolled beach. The man was subsequently airlifted to hospital, where he remains in a critical condition.
Investigation and Aftermath
Authorities have closed the beach and are using drones to scour the area. Drumlines have also been deployed in an attempt to capture the shark. Early assessments indicate a large, mature bull shark may be responsible for the attack.
In a development that could provide more clarity, authorities are reportedly reviewing "harrowing footage" captured by the couple just before the attack occurred. This comes just two months after another fatal shark attack, believed to be by a great white, took the life of a surfer at a popular Sydney beach.
