Shark kills swimmer off beach in Western Australia
A man was killed by a shark off the coast of Sorrento Beach near Perth, marking the fifth fatal shark attack in Australia this year. Authorities have closed local beaches as investigations continue into the incident.
Why it matters
The incident highlights ongoing public safety concerns regarding shark encounters in Australia and the frequency of fatal attacks in the region.
A shark killed a man as he swam off a popular beach near Perth in Western Australia on Friday, Western Australia police say.
It was the fifth death from a shark attack in Australia this year.
Police helicopters and boats scoured waters off Sorrento Beach after emergency services were called to the beach in the morning, officials said.
Authorities closed beaches in the area until further notice.
Local media reported that witnesses had seen blood in the water.
“It was like a scene off Jaws where a body is flicked around like a rag doll,” an unidentified male witness on the beach told local broadcaster Seven.
Surf Life Saving WA said in a social media post that an unidentified species of shark was involved in the attack about 50m offshore.
Also covering this story
4 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
Sorrento Beach north of Perth closed after suspected shark attack
Perth shark attack: swimmer missing after incident off Sorrento Beach in Western Australia
Swimmer dead after shark attack at Perth beach
Swimmer dies after being bitten by shark off popular Perth beach
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