Woman Killed, Man Injured In Bull Shark Attack At Remote Australian Beach

Last Updated:November 27, 2025, 17:25 IST

The woman died at the scene, while the man sustained leg injuries and was airlifted to hospital. Police said his condition was stable.

News18

A bull shark killed a woman and seriously injured a man while they were swimming off a remote beach in New South Wales on Thursday, authorities said. The attack took place in the early hours at Crowdy Bay, around 250 kilometres north of Sydney.

The woman died at the scene, while the man sustained leg injuries and was airlifted to hospital. Police said his condition was stable.

“They were known to each other, and they were going for a swim and the shark attacked," New South Wales Police inspector Timothy Bayly told reporters.

A bystander may have saved the man’s life by fashioning a makeshift tourniquet around his leg, state ambulance inspector Joshua Smyth said. “The courage from some bystanders is amazing in this situation — to put yourself out there is very heroic," he added.

Steven Pearce, chief executive of Surf Life Saving NSW, described the incident as “a really, really terrible incident" and highlighted the dangers of remote beaches. “This area is so remote, there’s no life guarding services up there at all," he told local radio 2GB.

Authorities said a bull shark, one of the deadliest predatory fish, was most likely involved in the attack. Bull sharks are capable of moving between fresh and salt water and can grow up to 2.3 metres (7.5 feet). Alongside great white and tiger sharks, they are among the species most likely to bite humans in Australian waters.

Shark attacks, while still rare, have been rising. Since 1791, there have been more than 1,280 recorded incidents in Australia, with over 250 resulting in death. Of these, 212 involved bull sharks. Experts suggest that increasingly crowded waters and rising ocean temperatures, which may influence shark migration patterns, are contributing factors.

Despite the risks, Australians continue to flock to the sea. A 2024 survey showed nearly two-thirds of the population made a total of 650 million coastal visits in a single year.

Authorities use a combination of drones, acoustic trackers, warning apps, and nets to reduce the risk of shark attacks, while researchers emphasise the importance of protecting shark populations. About 37 percent of oceanic sharks and rays are now listed as endangered or critically endangered globally.

(With inputs from AFP)

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