In brief
On Saturday morning, a 35‑year‑old woman was badly bitten by a shark at Sydney's Coogee Beach, suffering severe arm and leg injuries. Rescuers, assisted by bystanders who began first aid, pulled her out of the water before hospital air‑lift transport. Police closed several nearby beaches as a precaution. The event follows recent deaths from shark attacks in Perth and underscores that, although fatality rates are low, shark encounters remain a significant concern for Australia’s popular surf spots.
Police confirmed that a 35‑year‑old woman was seriously injured when a shark bit her at Coogee Beach on Saturday morning.
Emergency services were called to the site and members of the public began first aid before the police retrieved the woman from the water.
She sustained serious arm and leg injuries and was airlifted to a hospital by helicopter. Authorities temporarily closed several nearby beaches as a precaution.
An eyewitness, Nicola Logan, told Reuters that she saw a massive pool of blood and that a skier tried to bring the victim in.
The incident comes after a male diver died last week in Perth after a shark bite and follows a father‑of‑two who was killed by a shark in May.
Australia has recorded almost 1,300 shark attacks since 1791, with over 260 resulting in death. While many attacks are not fatal, they remain common along popular swimming and surfing locations.
Measures to mitigate shark risk are routinely implemented at key coastal sites.
