A day at the beach turned into a nightmare along the Pacific coast, forcing the sudden closure of popular swimming and surfing spots. A man enjoying the waves near Long Reef beach was fatally attacked, believed to be by a large shark. This tragic event brought chaos and concern to an otherwise peaceful stretch of shoreline.
Emergency teams quickly arrived on the scene after reports of a severely injured man. Police in New South Wales, Australia, later confirmed the victim died at Long Reef. He suffered massive blood loss and critical injuries. Authorities suspect a large shark was responsible for the attack. Pieces of the man’s broken surfboard have been collected for forensic examination.
One surfer, who wished to remain unnamed, told Sydney’s Daily Telegraph about the terrifying moments. The victim was surfing between Long Reef and Dee Why when the attack happened. Four or five other surfers rushed to help, pulling his body from the water. His lower body had terrible wounds. On the beach, lifeguards waved red flags and shouted for everyone to get out of the water immediately. The scene was full of panic.
Following this latest incident, beaches along the coast from Manly to Narrabeen were shut down. They will remain closed until further notice, allowing authorities to assess the situation. The community is still reeling from the shock.
This marks the first fatal shark attack in Sydney since 2022. That year, a 35-year-old British diver lost his life at Little Bay. Before that, you have to go all the way back to 1963 to find another such tragedy. These incidents are rare, but they serve as a harsh reminder of the ocean’s power.
Source: channelnewsasia