A man in his 50s tragically lost his life after being attacked by a shark at a beach near Sydney, Australia. Following the incident, authorities closed nearby beaches on Saturday while drones conducted searches for the shark.

Emergency services were called to Long Reef Beach shortly after 10 a.m. local time on Saturday, responding to reports of the man’s critical injuries.

The man, whose identity has yet to be confirmed, was retrieved from the surf and brought to shore but died at the scene.

Two sections of a surfboard were recovered and taken for examination.

Police closed the beach and liaised with wildlife experts to determine the species of shark involved.

Nearby beaches have been closed pending further advice.

Witnesses say the victim was brought ashore by two fellow surfers and that distraught family members rushed to the scene.

Local surfer Bill Sakula told reporters at the beach he heard about the attack while preparing to leave for a morning surf.

“It’s going to send shockwaves through the community,” he said. “Everyone is going to be a little bit nervous for a while.”

Surf Life Saving NSW deployed a drone to search for further shark activity.

“Our deepest condolences go to the family of the man involved in this terrible tragedy,” stated the group’s chief executive, Steve Pearce. He advised the public to avoid entering the water at nearby beaches.

The attack is thought to be the first in the state of New South Wales this year.

The last time a person was killed by a shark in Sydney was in February 2022.

That was the city’s first fatal shark attack since 1963.

Shark nets were installed at 51 beaches between Newcastle and Wollongong on Monday as part of a seasonal program.