Six Sydney beaches to reopen after Little Bay shark attack

The Sydney beach at the centre of a fatal shark attack will join half a dozen others in reopening to the public, after police confirmed no further shark sightings.

The Sydney beach at the centre of a fatal shark attack will join half a dozen others in reopening to the public on Friday.

Randwick Council announced on Thursday Little Bay, Malabar, Maroubra, Coogee, Clovelly and La Perouse would reopen after the Department of Primary Industries and police confirmed there were no additional shark sightings.

It comes after barricades were installed by council on Thursday to warn people off the beaches following the fatal attack.

Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker shared an update on the council’s response to the attack on social media, acknowledging the “shocking” nature of the incident.

“This is a developing situation. It’s very, very tragic.”

Lifeguard supervisor Paul Moffatt said jet skis and drones will be patrolling the water around Randwick over the coming days.

“Lifeguards have got a number of jet skis in the water, also surf lifesaving have put a jet ski in the water too.

“For tomorrow and for the weekend we will have a number of jet skis patrolling the area and also we’ll have a drone flying at Maroubra.”

OCEAN SWIM CANCELLED

Organisers will cancel the Malabar Magic Ocean Swim just days out from the event in the wake of a fatal shark attack on Wednesday.

Event director Rob Lloyd said the committee made the difficult decision on Thursday afternoon to pay respect to the victim’s family and out of concern for the safety of participants.

He said organisers would postpone the event to next year with future swims set to include a commemoration for the victim.

“The Murray Rose Malabar Magic Ocean Swim Organising Committee is aware of and saddened by the shark attack at Little Bay which is located to the south of Malabar Beach. Our thoughts and prayers go to the family of the deceased,” he said.

Meanwhile police are zeroing in on the identity of the deceased swimmer as half a dozen more beaches are closed as the hunt for the predator involved continues.

Police sources confirmed investigators are now close to identifying the victim who was attacked at 4:30pm north of Little Bay by what witnesses reported to be a 4.5 metre great white.

Detectives have also apparently made contact with potential family members of the deceased, but the victim is still yet to be formally identified.

Police said this morning the victim’s remains, which were discovered about 6pm, will be DNA tested because they are in such poor condition.

THIRTEEN SYDNEY BEACHES CLOSED

Thirteen Sydney beaches are now closed after Waverley and Sutherland Shire councils also made the decision to shut for 24 hours while search crews look for the shark.

This includes: Bronte, Tamarama, Bondi, Coogee, Clovelly, Sth Maroubra, Little Bay, Malabar/Long Bay, La Perouse, Wanda, Elouera, Nth Cronulla and Cronulla.

All Randwick City beaches ordered closed following fatal shark attackhttps://t.co/QQPTizmzSz

— Randwick Council (@RandwickCouncil) February 16, 2022

Bondi, Tamarama and Bronte beaches are closed today following yesterday's fatal shark attack at Little Bay. We are monitoring the situation closely and will follow the advice of DPI and Police. On behalf of everyone at Council, we express our condolences to the man's family. pic.twitter.com/HqF2LdPZfw

— Waverley Council (@WaverleyCouncil) February 16, 2022

Locals are divided on when they’ll return to the water with some brave swimmers still taking their regular dip this morning.

Malabar local and celebrity chef Colin Fassnidge said he’ll “leave it for a while” until he jumps back in the water.

“Look we’re in here all the time so it’s pretty shocking, you do know they’re out there. Our friends are out fishing at five in the morning and they see them all the time.”

“You want your kids growing up being cautious of the water but you don’t want them to have a fear of it but last night it was really murky and that’s when you know there’s a chance. You’re in their domain.”

Jess Dalton, 23, from Little Bay said the news of the attack won’t change her daily swim routine.

“I wasn’t too shocked by it but my little brother sent me the video and I wish I didn’t see that but I feel like I hear about shark attacks a fair bit,” she said.

“Yesterday I finished work and was keen for a swim but the beach is closed. I’m not too afraid of swimming in the bay here.”

Onlookers as search boats return to the water at Little Bay. Picture: John Grainger

A shark warning sign at Bondi on Thursday morning. Picture: Nick Hansen

NO-FLY RULE BYPASSED FOR DRONES

Drones will be above Little Bay to aid in the search after emergency approval was granted to bypass a strict no-fly rule in the area.

The area where the swimmer was taken is usually off-limits to drones, because it is under the flight path.

But the council applied for an exemption to use drones to search the area on Thursday morning following the fatal attack.

Approval was immediately granted by authorities.

Dawn at Little Bay. Picture: John Grainger

Police scour the shore for human remains. Picture: John Grainger

SMART DRUM LINES INSTALLED AT ATTACK SITE

NSW Agriculture Minister Dugald Saunders said Department of Primary Industry workers had set up drum lines at the attack site on Thursday morning.

“It’s a really grey area where people don’t quite know what the best way to manage sharks is, the reality is we’re in their part of the world but we also want to protect ourselves,” Mr Saunders said.

Drum lines being installed on Thursday morning.

The lines will be monitored.

“This morning, the fisheries guys have already been out to the location of yesterday’s really unfortunate and just gut-wrenching attack to put smart drum lines in … they will be monitored throughout the day.

“Smart drum lines have proven to be extremely successful, and also tagging sharks to show exactly where they are.”

Mr Saunders said the incident was “devastatingly unfortunate” but promised officials would be “absolutely thorough” in investigating and protecting other beach goers.

‘SHARK NETTING WOULDN’T HAVE PREVENTED ATTACK’

NSW Surf Life Saving Chief Executive Steven Pierce said it was unlikely shark nets would have saved the swimmer’s life.

“It’s a beautiful part of our coastline, there’s a high presence ocean swimmers and we often find swimmers quite a distance out from the shore,” Mr Pierce said.

“But I don’t think any form of shark netting would have prevented this attack, if a large shark is in the vicinity to attack someone.”

“Nine out of 10 times when we do patrols we see sharks, and they’re often just swimming by … tragically this shark was intent on causing harm.”

Locals and police at Little Bay on Wednesday. Picture: Richard Dobson

Mr Pierce said lifesavers would be patrolling the shoreline as drum lines are set up.

“Today we have our lifesaver rescue helicopter back on the scene, multiple drones and numerous jet skis from Surf Life Saving NSW and Randwick Council,” he said.

“We need to ensure the beaches are cleared of danger to our best ability, so we’ll keep surveilling that area today, leading into the weekend we’ll have a high presence of water assets and will ensure the lifesaver helicopter will fly around the coast to have that extra presence.”

Mr Pierce said lifeguards had been among the first to find “evidence” of the “horrific” attack, and said Little Bay was “very popular” for ocean swimmers.

Mr Pierce also urged social media users to stop sharing graphic vision of the attack online.

“It is horrific footage, I and the organisation really feel for the family (of the swimmer), they will be suffering enough trauma without this being shared in the public domain,” he said.

MAYOR CONSIDERS MORE SAFETY MEASURES

Randwick City Council Mayor Dylan Parker said Wednesday’s attack has “definitely added some urgency” to deploy more safety measures along Sydney’s coastline.

“I think it’s important not to have a knee-jerk-reaction but Randwick council signed up last year to trial new and additional measures and we’re currently working with the Department of Primary Industries who are rolling out drum lines now,” he said.

“This incident is a chilling reminder of the need to be vigilant along our coast but it’s definitely added some urgency tomeasures across our coast.”

Cr Parker first heard the news when he was swimming at Gordon’s Bay.

“It’s absolutely chilling news. I came down here yesterday and spoke to people. There were tears, people were clearly distressed because there were witnesses who were quite shocked and shaken up.”

“The coast is our community’s backyard. Little Bay is normally such a calm, beautiful place enjoyed by families,” Mr Parker said.

“To lose someone to a shark attack like this is chilling. We are all in shock.”
The shark was last seen in graphic vision taken by horrified onlookers during the attack, thrashing around in the water before the animal and its victim disappear below bloodstained waves.

The death is the first fatal shark attack in Sydney in more than 60 years.