Shark attack at Sydney's Coogee beach leaves woman with serious injuries

New South Wales Police said emergency services were called to Coogee Beach in the east of Sydney on Saturday morning after a 35‑year‑old woman was bitten by a shark. The victim was pulled from the water by members of the public, who began first‑aid before authorities arrived.

She suffered severe injuries to her arm and leg and was immediately airlifted to a hospital by helicopter. In response to the incident, several nearby beaches were closed as a precaution during the morning.

Eyewitness Nicola Logan told Reuters that she saw a "massive pool of blood" in the water, followed by frantic splashing as a ski paddleman tried to help the woman. She described the frantic scene before rescue teams arrived.

The attack came after a male diver died last week in a suspected shark bite south‑east of Perth, Western Australia. Earlier this year, a father of two was killed by a shark near Perth, underscoring the growing threat of these incidents in Australian waters.

Since records began in 1791, almost 1,300 shark attacks have been recorded in Australia, with more than 260 fatalities. While Australia experiences more shark attacks than many other regions, many incidents are not fatal.

Popular swimming and surfing spots in Australia typically employ measures to protect beachgoers from shark attacks, such as netting and patrols.

By Jaroslav Lukiv