Several Sydney beaches close after first fatal shark attack in decades

Sydney has recorded its first fatal shark attack in almost sixty years, with a number of beaches now closed and lifesavers on alert.

NSW Police search the waters edge at Buchan Point in Malabar, off Little Bay Beach in Sydney, on 17 February.

NSW Police search the waters edge at Buchan Point in Malabar, off Little Bay Beach in Sydney, on 17 February. Source: AAP

Multiple beaches in Sydney's east have been closed for 24 hours after a swimmer was killed by a shark in a chilling attack.

The swimmer died from catastrophic injuries after being targeted by what witnesses said was a four-and-a-half metre great white shark at Little Bay in the city's east on Wednesday afternoon.

Randwick Council has shut a number of beaches including Little Bay, Malabar, Maroubra, Coogee, Clovelly and La Perouse for 24 hours.
"Council Lifeguards will patrol beaches over the next 24 hours looking for any further sightings of sharks," Mayor Dylan Parker tweeted.

"To lose someone on our coastline like this is chilling to the core," he told Sydney radio 2GB on Thursday.

"The coast is our backyard.

"Little Bay is normally a calm, quiet, family friendly beach."

Later, human remains were found in the water.

NSW Ambulance inspector Lucky Phrachnanh said the swimmer "suffered catastrophic injuries as a result of the attack and there was nothing paramedics could do when we arrived on scene".
It is the first fatal shark attack in Sydney waters since 1963.
A map showing where Sydney's first fatal shark attack in decades occured
The fatal shark attack occurred at Little Bay in the city's east on Wednesday afternoon. Source: SBS News
A witness told Nine News he saw a four-and-a-half metre great white shark attack the swimmer.

Kris Linto said the shark "attacked him vertically".

"We heard a yell ... it looked like a car had landed in the water," he said.

The unnamed victim is believe to be a local man who swam regularly in the area.

NSW Police and the Department of Primary Industry are investigating the circumstances surrounding the swimmer's death.


Share
2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP, SBS


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world