A shark attack on Thursday morning at Crowdy Bay beach in New South Wales claimed the life of a woman and seriously injured a man, authorities said. The beach is about 250 kilometres (155 miles) north of Sydney. Police confirmed that the victims were known to each other and had gone swimming together when the attack occurred.
The woman died at the scene, while the man sustained severe leg injuries. He was airlifted to a hospital in stable condition. Bystanders played a crucial role in saving the man’s life by applying a makeshift tourniquet, New South Wales State Ambulance Inspector Joshua Smyth said.
Officials respond to remote location challenges
Crowdy Bay is a remote beach with no lifeguarding services, Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steven Pearce said. He described the attack as “a really, really terrible incident.” Authorities have closed the beach and surrounding areas while they work to identify the shark species responsible.
New South Wales Police Inspector Timothy Bayly emphasized the bravery of witnesses, calling their actions “heroic” in such a dangerous situation.
Shark incidents in Australia
Australia has recorded more than 1,280 shark encounters since 1791, with over 250 resulting in death. Great white, tiger, and bull sharks are the species most likely to attack humans, according to historical data. A similar fatal great white shark attack occurred at a Sydney beach in September, killing a surfer.
Despite these risks, Australians continue to visit the coast in large numbers. A 2024 survey found nearly two-thirds of the population made a total of 650 million coastal visits in a single year.
Safety measures and shark conservation
Authorities employ multiple strategies to protect swimmers, including drones, acoustic trackers, listening buoys, mobile app alerts, and traditional nets. Researchers emphasize that shark conservation remains essential. Globally, about 37% of oceanic shark and ray species are endangered or critically endangered, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
