Human remains found following Sydney shark attack, popular beaches closed as hunt for predator continues

Massive stretches of Sydney beaches remain closed as the hunt for a killer shark continues after a swimmer’s horrific death. WARNING: Graphic

WARNING: Graphic

A number of popular beaches across Sydney will be closed on Thursday after a swimmer died from “catastrophic injuries” in a horror shark attack at a popular beach.

Dozens of swimmers and fishermen witnessed horrifying scenes as the swimmer spent his final moments screaming for help and trying to fight off the monster great white shark.

The man was swimming off Buchan Point near Little Bay Beach about 4.30pm Wednesday when he was killed in the city’s first fatal shark attack in almost 60 years.

Remains of the swimmer were later found, including half a wetsuit, with onlookers watching in horror.

Shane Daw of Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter said no shark had been spotted yet.

The person suffered catastrophic injuries. Picture: TNV.

A fisherman saw the swimmer taken. Picture: TNV.

“Sharks do live in the ocean so we are appreciative of that, they will always be around and we do see sharks through the area so it isn’t uncommon,” Mr Daw told Sunrise.

“Generally they are relatively harmless but these are unfortunate circumstances, all agencies are doing their best to try and see if we can find it and bring closure to the family.”

Mr Daw said there has not been an increase in shark numbers this summer.

Police and emergency crews have continued to search for the shark overnight, closing beaches from Coogee all the way down the coast to Cronulla in Sydney’s south.

Surf Life Saving’s George Shales said beaches are expected to be closed for at least 24 hours.

Emergency services rushed to the scene after onlookers reported the terrifying attack.

SHARK spotted at Coogee Beach, everyone evacuating the Water. 🏃🏽‍♂️🦈@9NewsAUS@7NewsSydney@abcnews@newscomauHQ@dailytelegraph@DailyMailAU#Sydney#CoogeeBeach#Sharkpic.twitter.com/SAvdhKFJnO

— Jai Marcus McAllister™️ (@JaiMcAllisterx) February 16, 2022

“Unfortunately this person had suffered catastrophic injuries and there wasn’t a lot paramedics could do when we arrived,” a NSW Ambulance spokeswoman said.

Shocking footage shows the moment the shark latched onto the man’s body and dragged him underwater.

The predator can be seen thrashing his body around.

“Someone just got eaten by a shark,” the man recording the video could be heard yelling, adding it was a “big great white”.

A fisherman can be heard yelling in footage: “Someone just got eaten by a shark. Oh man! Oh no! That’s insane. That’s a great white shark.”

“The person’s still there, I just saw a four to five metre great white explode on the surface just here on a swimmer and it was like a car landing in the water,” the man said.

“F*** man, I heard a scream and the shark was just chomping on his body and the body was in half just off the rocks here.

“It came back and swallowed parts of his body and that was it. It disappeared.”

It’s the first fatal shark attack in Sydney since 1963. Picture: TNV.

Huge splashes could be seen with the water in the area turning red and birds circling above.

Another woman yelled “oh my god … what the f***?” in disbelief.

Emergency services were quickly called to the scene where they found half a wetsuit.

“Footage clearly shows a body, half a body being taken by a shark,” a police officer told colleagues over a scanner.

“They have found some remains.”

Dozens of people were swimming and paddle boarding at the beach at the time of the attack.

Witnesses said they heard the swimmer yelling at the time of the attack.

“Some guy was swimming and a shark came and attacked him vertically,” Kris Linto, a witness, told 9 News.

“We heard a yell and turned around it looked like a car had landed in the water, a big splash then the shark was chomping at the body and there was blood everywhere.

“It was really bad.”

Mr Linto claimed he saw a 4.5-metre great white shark attack the swimmer.

Witnesses heard someone screaming from the water. Picture: TNV.

Breaking news: shark attack near Little Bay. Witnesses say fisherman fell in and was taken by a 4m shark. Chopper and police all over the headland pic.twitter.com/kuLb07tAtv

— Stephen Hutcheon (@lewgus) February 16, 2022

Little Bay Beach was closed on Wednesday afternoon as officers continue to search the area.

It is the first fatality from a shark attack in Sydney since 1963.

Police will be liaising with the Department of Primary Industry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of the swimmer.

A report will be prepared for the Coroner.

Randwick Council has closed several popular beaches following the fatal attack.

“Little Bay, Malabar, Maroubra, Coogee, Clovelly and La Perouse will be closed for 24 hours,” the council said.

“Lifeguards will patrol beaches over the next 24 hours looking for any further sightings of sharks.”

Originally published as Human remains found following Sydney shark attack, popular beaches closed as hunt for predator continues