Crowdy Bay shark attack kills young woman, injures man
Sultanul Arefin 
A young woman has died after a shark attack at a remote New South Wales beach. A man is in a critical condition. The attack happened early Thursday at Kylies Beach in Crowdy Bay National Park on the state’s Mid North Coast. Emergency services were called about 6.30am after reports that two people had been bitten in the water.
Shark attack at Crowdy Bay kills young woman
Police say the pair, both believed to be in their 20s, suffered serious injuries before bystanders pulled them from the surf. Witnesses gave first aid on the sand while waiting for paramedics, however the woman could not be saved and died at the scene. The man sustained severe leg wounds but remained conscious as rescuers worked.
Emergency response at Kylies Beach in NSW
The Westpac Rescue Helicopter flew the injured man to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle in a critical condition. Doctors later reported that his condition had stabilised after emergency surgery. The rural beach, which is not regularly patrolled by lifeguards, was quickly cleared of people as police secured the area.
Beach closures and shark investigation underway
Kylies Beach and nearby stretches of coastline have been closed while officers from NSW Police Marine Area Command and the Department of Primary Industries investigate. Authorities are using drones and boats to search for the shark and to determine its species. As a result, Surf Life Saving NSW has urged people to avoid the water in the Crowdy Bay region for at least 24 hours.
Recent shark activity heightens safety concerns
The Department of Primary Industries recently tagged and released a 2.63-metre tiger shark at Burgess Beach in Forster, about 70 kilometres south, only a day before the attack. It is not yet known whether that shark is linked to Thursday’s incident. This death adds to a series of serious shark encounters around Australia this year and has renewed debate about how coastal communities manage risk.
Authorities offer condolences and safety advice
Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steve Pearce called the attack a terrible tragedy and extended condolences to the families involved. He said rapid drone deployment has helped provide surveillance and warned swimmers to follow lifeguard instructions and stay out of closed areas. Locals and visitors are being reminded to avoid swimming at dawn and dusk, stay in patrolled zones where available, and report shark sightings through state monitoring apps.
Featured Image: Wikimedia Commons
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Suzan Seherin 