A tranquil morning swim turned into a nightmare at a secluded Australian beach as a shark claimed one life and left another fighting for survival, prompting emergency closures and drone patrols.
A young woman has died and a man is in critical condition after a shark attacked them while they were swimming at a remote beach in New South Wales. Police said the woman, who is believed to have been in her twenties, died at the scene despite efforts to assist her. The man, also in his twenties, suffered severe injuries and was airlifted to a hospital in Newcastle where he remains in critical care. Emergency services were called to Kylies Beach in Crowdy Bay National Park, which is located about three hundred kilometres north of Sydney, early on Thursday morning. Authorities have described the location as isolated and said that reaching the victims required swift coordination.
Officials praised a bystander whose quick thinking helped stabilise the injured man before paramedics arrived. According to medical staff, the bystander created an improvised tourniquet and applied it to the man’s leg, a move they believe may have saved his life by slowing major blood loss. NSW Ambulance Superintendent Josh Smyth commended the bravery shown, calling the intervention heroic and stating that it bought crucial time for emergency responders. The Department of Primary Industries said the shark involved was likely a large bull shark. According to the Australian Museum, bull sharks inhabit fresh water and salt water and are among the species considered dangerous to humans. They are also listed as the third most deadly shark species by the International Shark Attack File.
The beach has been closed to the public and authorities have deployed smart drumlines which use bait to attract sharks so they can be tagged and released for monitoring. Surf Life Saving NSW said neighbouring beaches would remain closed for twenty four hours while drones survey the area for further shark activity. The organisation expressed deep condolences to the families of both victims and urged the public to avoid entering the water in nearby locations. This incident marks the fifth fatal shark attack in Australia this year, following a deadly event less than three months ago on the northern beaches of Sydney.
