Daily London
A woman and a man bitten by a shark in a fatal attack on the New South Wales Mid North Coast were known to each other, police have confirmed.
Emergency services were called to a beach at Crowdy Bay near Port Macquarie about 6.30am.
Bystanders provided aid to the victims before paramedics arrived but a woman, believed to be aged in her 20s, died at the scene.
The man, also aged in his 20s, was airlifted to John Hunter Hospital with serious injuries.
NSW Ambulance said the man was in a stable condition.
Ambulance Superintendent Joshua Smyth praised a bystander who applied a makeshift tourniquet to the man’s leg, saying they “potentially saved his life”.
Police said whether more than one shark had been involved in the attack would be a matter of investigation.
Multiple beaches have been closed, with Surf Life Saving working to secure signage to let beach-goers know ahead of an anticipated hot weekend.
There will be extra surveillance at patrolled beaches on the weekend.
It’s not known when the closed beaches will be reopened.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steven Pearce told 2GB the association was sending up surveillance drones and personnel to support police and the Department of Primary Industries.
“These incidents are horrific for everyone, and unfortunately we’ve had a few this year,” he said.
“This area, it’s just so remote, you know, there’s no lifeguarding service up there at all.”
