Several Sydney beaches have been closed after a swimmer was fatally attacked by what was believed to be a great white shark at Buchan Point between Little Bay Beach and Malabar Beach on Wednesday.
Emergency services responded to reports that a swimmer had been attacked by a shark at the location around 4.30 p.m., after which rescue crews found human remains in the water.
“It was really bad,” he said.
Another witness told Today that out of nowhere, something launched out of the water.
“It was just a big shark, in the air, totally airborne, hit the guy very, very quick,” he said.
“We realised it was a shark attack on a swimmer just ten metres off the rocks. We couldn’t do anything about it.”
The swimmer is yet to be identified, and search crews, with the assistance of lifeguards, are still looking for the shark and further remains.
Randwick beaches Little Bay, Malabar, Maroubra, Coogee, Clovelly, and La Perouse, as well as Waverly beaches Bronte, Tamarama, and Bondi, will remain closed on Thursday as the search continues.
“The coast is our community’s backyard. Little Bay is normally such a calm, beautiful place enjoyed by families,” he said
“To lose someone to a shark attack like this is chilling. Our entire community’s hearts go out to the family of the victim.”
The last fatal shark attack in Sydney was at Sugarloaf Bay in Middle Harbour back in 1963. The person was wading when attacked, and the shark was believed to be either a bull shark or whaler.
The next most recent attack was in 1960 when a freediver was attacked by a bull shark also in Middle Harbour, not far from where the 1963 attack occurred.
