Woman Killed, Man Injured in Shark Attack at Crowdy Bay Beach

A woman has died and a man is critically injured following a shark attack at Crowdy Bay Beach on Australia's New South Wales Mid North Coast.

Emergency services responded to reports of a shark attack at approximately 6:30 a.m. on Thursday. Witnesses provided assistance to the victims before paramedics arrived. Despite their efforts, the woman, believed to be in her 20s, was pronounced dead at the scene. The man, also in his 20s, sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to John Hunter Hospital in critical condition.

The beach has been closed as authorities, including officers from the Manning/Great Lakes Police District and experts from the Department of Primary Industries, work to identify the species of shark involved. A report will be prepared for the coroner.

This incident marks the fifth fatal shark attack in Australia this year. The most recent prior to this occurred less than three months ago, when a man was killed in a rare shark attack in Sydney's northern beaches.