Tragedy struck at a well-loved vacation spot when a young woman in her 20s lost her life following a shark attack during an early-morning swim.
Authorities rushed to Kylies Beach in Crowdy Bay, situated south of Port Macquarie, around 6:30 a.m. after reports of the incident surfaced.
New South Wales Police revealed that both a woman and a man, each in their 20s, suffered injuries from the attack.
It is understood that the individuals are Swedish nationals, and the man was injured while attempting to rescue the woman.
Despite the prompt intervention of those nearby, the woman succumbed to her injuries before medical responders could reach the scene. Her identity has not yet been officially confirmed.
The man sustained a significant wound to his upper-right thigh and was transported by air to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle, according to a spokesperson from NSW Ambulance.
He is now in a stable condition.
NSW Ambulance Superintendent Joshua Smyth praised the efforts of a bystander who delivered life-saving assistance to the injured man.
A woman in her 20s died after she was attacked by a shark during an early-morning swim at Crowdy Bay on the NSW Mid North Coast on Thursday morning
The Department of Primary Industries is working to establish the species of shark involved
‘I need to have a shout out to the bystander on the beach who put a makeshift tourniquet on the males leg,’ he told a press conference on Thursday.
‘That potentially saved his life and allowed New South Wales ambulance paramedics to get to him and do first aid.
‘The courage from some bystanders is amazing… to put yourself out there is very heroic and it did give us time to get to that male patient.’
Supt Smyth could not confirm how the injured pair made their way to shore following the attack, but said the woman was found deceased on the sand when they arrived.
NSW Ambulance deployed multiple resources to the scene, including a helicopter with a doctor, a critical care paramedic and five land vehicles.
Surf Life Saving NSW’s James Turner said there were no active patrols at the time.
‘We just had people deployed to the area to assist an incident happened quite quickly and it was already response there,’ he said.
Mr Turner urged all swimmers to avoid unpatrolled areas.
Surrounding beaches will be closed for at least 24 hours while Surf Life Saving NSW deploys drones to locate the shark and monitor for ongoing risks
It’s understood the couple were staying at Kylies Beach campground in Crowdy Bay National Park.
A warning on the campground’s website states ‘beaches in this park are not patrolled and can have strong rip currents’.
NSW operates a shark monitoring program that sends alerts when tagged sharks come within 500m of receivers near 37 beaches along the coastline.
Kylies Beach does not have a receiver, with the nearest about 30km south at Old Bar.
The beach has been closed as experts from the Department of Primary Industries work to establish the species of shark involved.
The department tagged and released a 2.6m tiger shark at Burgess Beach in Forster, 70km from Kylies Beach, at about 10.50am on Wednesday.
A police spokesperson confirmed drum lines may be deployed in a bid to catch the shark responsible for Thursday’s attack.
Surrounding beaches will be closed for at least 24 hours while Surf Life Saving NSW deploys drones to locate the shark and monitor for ongoing risks.
Despite efforts of witnesses, the woman died before paramedics arrived
‘Tragically, one young female has been killed by a shark, and there’s another male that’s been flown to hospital,’ chief executive Steven Pearce told 2GB radio.
‘This area is so remote, there’s no lifeguarding services up there at all.
‘These incidents are horrific for everyone, and unfortunately, we’ve had a few this year already.’
Lyne MP Alison Penfold said she was ‘deeply heartbroken’ by the incident.
‘I cannot imagine the pain and shock that family and loved ones are going through right now,’ she wrote on social media.
‘I extend my deepest condolences to them and the wider Crowdy community in what is a devastatingly tragic loss of life.’
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
