SYDNEY, Australia. A man in his 50s was fatally mauled by a shark at Long Reef Beach near Sydney on Saturday, prompting the closure of nearby beaches as authorities deployed drones to search for the predator.
Emergency crews arrived shortly after 10 a.m. following reports of a critically injured swimmer. The man, who has not yet been identified, was pulled from the surf and brought ashore but died at the scene. Two broken pieces of a surfboard were recovered for examination.
Police closed the beach and are working with wildlife experts to identify the species of shark involved. Surrounding beaches have also been shut as a precaution.
Witnesses said two fellow surfers helped bring the victim to shore, and distraught family members rushed to the scene.
Local surfer Bill Sakula, who was preparing to leave after his morning session, told reporters, “It’s going to send shockwaves through the community. Everyone is going to be a little bit nervous for a while.”
Surf Life Saving NSW deployed drones to monitor the area. “Our deepest condolences go to the family of the man involved in this terrible tragedy,” said Steve Pearce, the group’s chief executive, who urged the public to avoid swimming in nearby waters.
Authorities said the incident was the first shark attack in New South Wales this year. The last fatal shark attack in Sydney occurred in February 2022, the first since 1963.
Just days earlier, shark nets had been installed at 51 beaches between Newcastle and Wollongong as part of a seasonal safety program.
Edgardo Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
- EDGARDO HERNAL
- EDGARDO HERNAL
- EDGARDO HERNAL
- EDGARDO HERNAL
