Man killed by shark while swimming at Sorrento Beach near Perth
A male swimmer died after being attacked by a shark at Sorrento Beach, Western Australia, in an incident that occurred around 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 18, marking the region's second shark attack in four days.
Western Australia police said a man was bitten by a shark while swimming at Sorrento Beach, a popular spot about 12 miles northwest of Perth, at approximately 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 18. The victim was pulled into deeper water and later died from his injuries.
Police confirmed the incident but did not identify the shark species. A sighting of a more than 16-foot great white shark was reported near a reef close to the beach later that day on the SharkSmart monitoring platform.
Witnesses described the attack as sudden and violent. One observer, Ryan Rowe, said he was shocked by the amount of blood. Another, Ingrid Mitchell, who swims at the beach daily, said the victim was dragged away quickly. A third witness, Darrel Haythornthwaite, noted that the victim's friend survived and reached shore.
The event follows a separate shark attack on a surfer in Geraldton, about 250 miles north of Perth, where the surfer lost a foot and sustained serious leg injuries. Authorities are investigating both incidents.