Tragic Morning Swim Ends in Fatal Shark Attack
A young woman has lost her life and a man has been seriously injured following a shark attack at a popular beach in New South Wales, Australia. The incident occurred on Thursday morning at Kylies Beach within the Crowdy Bay National Park, located near Port Macquarie.
Emergency Response and Bystander Heroism
Emergency services were called to the scene at approximately 6:30 am local time after receiving reports that two people had been bitten. The pair, who were known to each other, had entered the water for an early morning swim at the beach, a well-known surfing spot.
The woman, believed to be in her 20s, died at the scene and has not yet been formally identified. The man, also understood to be in his 20s, was airlifted to a nearby hospital in a critical condition.
Police have highlighted the crucial role played by a bystander whose swift actions may have prevented a second fatality. Police Chief Inspector Timothy Bayly commended the individual, stating, "I just really need to have a shoutout to the bystander on the beach who put a makeshift tourniquet on the male's leg which obviously potentially saved his life." The man is now reported to be in a serious but stable condition in hospital.
Rarity of Dual Shark Attacks
Experts have emphasised how unusual it is for a single shark to attack more than one person. Gavin Naylor, director of the University of Florida's shark research programme, explained the rarity of such events.
"It is very unusual. Individual shark attacks are rare. And shark attacks on two people by the same individual is not unheard of, but it's very rare," Naylor said. He suggested that younger, less experienced sharks might be responsible and noted that tiger sharks are more commonly associated with multiple bites in a single incident than great white sharks.
In response to the attack, Kylies Beach has been closed to the public as authorities work to determine the species of shark involved. The area is known for its camping, fishing, and hiking tracks.
