A Swiss tourist who bravely attempted to ward off a shark during a tragic attack that took his girlfriend’s life on a New South Wales beach has been identified.
Lucas Schindler, 26, and his 25-year-old girlfriend, Olivia Mulheim, were at Kylies Beach, located south of Port Macquarie, when the harrowing incident occurred.
An accomplished marathon runner, Schindler recently completed the Sydney Marathon in August, showcasing his athletic prowess.
Tragically, the attack left Schindler with severe leg injuries from the bull shark’s bite, casting doubt on his ability to walk again.
The couple had entered the water at dawn to capture footage of a nearby pod of dolphins as they enjoyed the final moments of their vacation.
“It was all anyone could talk about yesterday, it’s just so devastating,” a local resident shared with 9News.
“My child was camping out here last week, swimming. I just couldn’t imagine how everyone’s feeling.”
“So he’s in a whole world of hurt, obviously not just from his injury, but, you know, emotionally he’s going to be really struggling,” shark attack survivor David Pearson said.
Pearson has been a member of a group helping people overcome the challenges following a shark attack.
”We’re here to try and help people understand life after an attack, because it’s not an easy journey.”
The beaches around Crowdy Bay were closed today and could remain that way over the weekend.
Investigations into finding the shark responsible for the attack continue as Fisheries NSW has deployed half a dozen drum lines across the beach.
Surf Life Saving is deploying drones and scanning for any sharks.
Since the attack, no sharks have been spotted in the area.
