Sydney Woman Seriously Injured in Shark Attack at Coogee Beach

A 35‑year‑old woman was badly bitten by a shark at Coogee Beach in Sydney on Saturday morning, police said. She was pulled from the water by members of the public, who started first aid, and suffered serious injuries to her arm and leg.

The victim was air‑lifted by helicopter to a hospital for treatment. Several nearby beaches were shut as a precautionary measure.

Witnesses recorded a massive pool of blood in the water before a spectator attempted to pull the woman back to shore. The incident comes in the wake of a fatal shark attack on a diver near Perth and a death that last month killed a father of two near Perth.

Australian sharks have been responsible for almost 1,300 recorded attacks since 1791, more than 260 of which ended in death. Popular surfing spots generally have protective measures in place.

Photo courtesy of Reuters