A beach popular among visitors in Australia has been closed by authorities following an incident where a person was bitten on the foot by a suspected 1.5-meter tiger shark while swimming in the ocean.
The Department of Primary Industries reported that the individual was swimming at the Sandtrax surf spot on Port Beach in North Fremantle, located approximately 15 kilometers southwest of the central business district. The attack occurred around 2:30 pm local time on Wednesday, March 26. Witnesses traveling past the area on a boat heard the man’s cries for help and assisted him back to shore. One witness, Elliot Kane, described the scene and the rescue efforts conducted.
After the incident, the group promptly notified authorities about the shark bite, which was confirmed to be from a 1.5-meter tiger shark about an hour later. Warning signs were put up in the vicinity of Port Beach, advising swimmers to exercise extra caution, and the beach was closed as a precautionary measure. The current condition of the swimmer at the hospital remains undisclosed.
This closure comes shortly after a tragic incident where a surfer named Steven Payne lost his life in a shark attack while surfing at Wharton Beach near Esperance in Western Australia. Payne, a New Zealand native on a caravan trip with his partner around Australia, was fatally attacked by a shark while surfing. Witnesses recounted the horrifying event and the unsuccessful attempts to recover his body from the water.
In a statement released by his family, Payne was described as a beloved individual, affectionately known as a “gentle giant” due to his kind and laid-back nature. His family expressed deep sorrow over the loss, highlighting his positive qualities and the impact he had on those around him.