A man in his thirties was in a "critical" condition on Saturday after being attacked by a shark in Western Australia, rescue services told Agence France-Presse (AFP).
ABC News reported that the incident took place before 10.00 am on Saturday at Geordie Bay on Rottnest Island.
"The rescue helicopter is on scene, along with police and island emergency services," St John Ambulance spokesperson told AFP.
A five-metre white shark was spotted 80 metres offshore about the time of the attack, according to Surf Life Saving WA.
There have been nearly 1,300 shark incidents around Australia since 1791, of which more than 260 resulted in death, according to a database of the predators' encounters with humans.
The most recent fatality was a 12-year-old boy who died after being attacked by a shark in Sydney Harbour in January.
That attack was one of four recorded in the span of two days, which prompted officials to close dozens of the city's beaches.
It was the city's third recent shark-related death.
Australian scientists believe increasingly crowded waters and rising ocean temperatures are swaying sharks' migratory patterns, which may be contributing to a rise in attacks.
Rottnest Island is one of Western Australia's most popular tourist destinations.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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