Swimmer Killed in Shark Attack at Sorrento Beach in Perth, Australia as Bystanders Watch
- A swimmer died after a shark attack at Sorrento Beach in Perth on Friday morning, prompting an emergency response
- Witnesses at the scene described seeing the man dragged underwater just 50 metres from shore
- Authorities closed the beach and launched an extensive search involving helicopters and boats
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Source: Getty Images
A swimmer lost his life following a shark attack at Sorrento Beach in Perth, Western Australia, on Friday morning. Police confirmed the fatal incident after emergency crews were called to the scene at around 10:15 local time.
Authorities deployed helicopters and boats to search the waters around the beach. Police did not confirm at the time whether a body had been recovered.
What witnesses saw at Sorrento Beach
The attack unfolded just 50 metres from the shoreline, close enough for bystanders on the beach to watch in horror. One witness, a nurse, told local outlet WAtoday that she saw the man being mauled as the shark "tossed him around like a fish."
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"I'm a nurse, so I mean I obviously see a lot of gruesome stuff, but to see somebody being mauled to death in the water in front of me is pretty hard to clock."
She added that despite swimming in the area daily, she would not be returning to the water.
Source: Getty Images
Another witness, Jacqui Rapaic, was walking along the beach with a friend when the attack occurred. She told national broadcaster ABC that she looked out to sea and spotted "a pool of blood" in the water. Rapaic said she believed two people had been swimming, but only one made it back to shore.
Members of the public had also reported spotting a shark estimated to be around 2.5 metres long in the water at roughly the same time.
Beach closed as search continues
Sorrento Beach remained closed to the public following the attack, with authorities urging people to stay away from the area while the search operation continued.
Australia has seen several fatal shark attacks over the past year, including the death of a 12-year-old boy in Sydney in January.
Read the full BBC article here.
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Source: Briefly News
