A morning swim at one of Sydney’s most popular beaches turned violent when a shark attacked a woman at Coogee Beach, leaving her seriously injured in the latest in a string of incidents off Australia’s coastline, authorities said.
Police said emergency services rushed to Coogee Beach in Sydney’s east after receiving reports that a swimmer had been bitten.
“The woman was pulled from the water by members of the public who commenced first aid,” police said, adding that the victim suffered serious arm and leg injuries.
Police said the woman, believed to be in her 30s, was taken by road ambulance to hospital.
In the aftermath, Coogee Beach and two nearby beaches were closed, authorities said.
The Sydney attack comes amid heightened concern about sharks around Australia. A week earlier, a man died after being attacked by a shark while fishing off the coast of Western Australia state, marking the most recent fatal incident.
Last month, a 39-year-old man died after being attacked while fishing on Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef.
Ten days earlier, a 38-year-old was fatally fatally mauled off an island near Perth in Western Australia.
In January, dozens of beaches along Australia’s east coast — including locations in Sydney — were shut after four shark attacks were reported over two days.
Those incidents came after heavy rainfall, which can cloud the water and draw sharks closer while also making them harder for swimmers to spot.
Most shark attacks occur along the east and southeast seaboard of Australia, which averages around 20 such incidents a year, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
