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Australia shark attack: Man killed at Byron Bay | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A man has been killed in a presumed shark attack off a beach in Byron Bay, the most easterly point on the Australian mainland, officials say. | |
The man was bitten on his leg at the popular tourist destination in New South Wales. | The man was bitten on his leg at the popular tourist destination in New South Wales. |
Swimmers brought him in to the beach but he was pronounced dead shortly afterwards. | Swimmers brought him in to the beach but he was pronounced dead shortly afterwards. |
Beaches in the area have been closed for 24 hours and people are being warned to stay out of the water. | Beaches in the area have been closed for 24 hours and people are being warned to stay out of the water. |
"At 10:45 police and paramedics were called to Main Beach after reports of a shark attack," New South Wales police said in a statement. | |
"A man, believed to be aged in his 40s, was in the water when he was bitten on the right leg by what is believed to be a shark. | |
"He was seen floating in shallow water, close to the shore line, and dragged onto the beach. An ambulance was called and he was pronounced dead a short time later," the statement said. | |
Inquiries into the identity of the man were ongoing, police said. | |
A shark had been seen in the area before the attack, ABC reported, citing police. | |
'Get him back' | |
Eyewitness Daniel Toole, 26, told ABC News that he was surfing when he noticed a crowd of people yelling at him to get out of the water. | |
"Everyone had got to him and were trying to help him," he said of the injured man. "They were giving him CPR and just trying to get him back." | |
Rescue organisation Surf Lifesaving Australia said the beach was not supervised at the time of the attack as it had occurred a week before seasonal duties. | |
"But at the council's request, lifeguards will be on duty for at least the next 24 hours ensuring the water remains clear," it said in a statement. | |
There have been several shark attacks off Australia's beaches in recent years. | |
In April, a woman was killed as she swam off Tathra beach, also in New South Wales. | In April, a woman was killed as she swam off Tathra beach, also in New South Wales. |
The Western Australia government, meanwhile, has ordered a cull of sharks, following at least six fatal attacks off the state's beaches in three years. | The Western Australia government, meanwhile, has ordered a cull of sharks, following at least six fatal attacks off the state's beaches in three years. |
Baited hooks have been installed off Perth's popular beaches. Any shark more than three metres long - which could include Great White, Tiger and Bull sharks - will be shot. | Baited hooks have been installed off Perth's popular beaches. Any shark more than three metres long - which could include Great White, Tiger and Bull sharks - will be shot. |
The controversial move prompted thousands of people to take part in protests against the culls. | The controversial move prompted thousands of people to take part in protests against the culls. |