How fatal shark attack at Crowdy Bay on NSW’s Mid-North Coast unfolded

A Swedish couple were filming themselves swimming with dolphins on an idyllic NSW Mid-North Coast beach when a shark attacked. The boyfriend heroically tried to fight off the shark to save his girlfriend’s life. Here is how the tragic incident unfolded.

A heroic backpacker fought to save his girlfriend from a shark attack that claimed her life, suffering massive injuries himself before dragging her to shore where she died on the sand.

The Swiss man in his 20s suffered life-threatening injuries to his leg while desperately fending off the shark that mauled his partner moments earlier as they swam with dolphins at Kylies Beach on the Mid North Coast early on Thursday morning.

Dragging his dying girlfriend 50m back to shore, the backpacker then flagged down a bystander for help, but by the time she reached the wounded pair, the woman, also in her 20s, had succumbed to her injuries.

The passerby, a woman in her 40s, saved the man’s life by calling triple-0 for help, where she was coached through using her swimsuit to make a tourniquet around the man’s thigh and stem his bleeding, according to NSW Ambulance Mid North Coast Inspector Kirran Mowbray.

“He suffered severe injuries to his right thigh,’ Insp Mowbray said.

“Our call takers were able to talk the bystander through how to make a tourniquet. 

“The shark initially attacked the female but her partner fought the shark off and managed to drag her to shore.”

Insp Mowbray said the bystander was “obviously shaken up but she’s doing OK”.

The man was reported to be in a critical condition on Thursday after being stabilised on the sand and flown by a Westpac rescue helicopter to John Hunter Hospital.

Harrowing footage and shark bite experts will be used to confirm that the shark – suspected of being a mature bull shark – was responsible for the fatal mauling.

The investigation will determine what type of shark was involved, but it is suspected it may have been a mature bull shark.

The tourists are believed to have been filming themselves swimming with dolphins when the woman was attacked, and may have inadvertently filmed the ordeal.

The couple, both Swiss nationals travelling parts of Australia, are believed to have arrived at the Kylies Beach campsite on Wednesday night and set up camp, before the woman was attacked as they swam on the northern end of Crowdy Bay, south of Port Macquarie, about 6.30am.

The young couple, both Swedish nationals, are understood to have gone for a swim at about 6.30am, and were filming themselves swimming with dolphins when the shark attack occurred.

Kevin Birdcutt, from Kuring-gai in Sydney, was staying in the Kylies Beach campsite and said he had just woken up and was having coffee about 6.50am when he saw two ambulances speed past with a white LandCruiser close behind.

Mr Birdcutt walked to the beach to see what was going on.

“The 4WD was the only vehicle on the beach transferring the ambulance paramedics to the scene,” Mr Birdcutt said.

“There were two people there.”

Mr Birdicutt saw paramedics try to save the woman’s life but at that time he was not aware it had been because of a shark attack. Picture Scott Calvin

Paramedics on the scene trying to save the woman’s life.

Mr Birdcutt said the horrific scene unfurled about 200 metres from him.

“The ambulance workers were attending to a person, I could see one ambulance person holding up a drip,” Mr Birdcutt said.

The LandCruiser was moved to shield the victim and emergency crews from onlookers, with Mr Birdcutt saying “he had no idea” of what was going on at first and was only alerted later by his wife that she had heard it was a shark attack.

According to Mr Birdcutt and other campers, the shark attack victims had arrived at the campsite about 9pm on Wednesday night in a car with Queensland plates.

Police collected the tent and the pair’s belongings on Thursday morning.

Mr Birdcutt — who had visited the campsite on two previous occasions — said it had shaken the secluded nature reserve’s visitors.

He also said he went for a deep ocean swim the previous day without incident.

Crowdy Bay Beach on Thursday, November 27, after a woman died and a man was flown to John Hunter Hospital after a shark attack. Picture: Scott Calvin

Taree local Robert Crossingham (left) was also at the campsite when he heard the ambulances rushed past.

“I saw three people up there, it looked like someone was on the ground and someone was over them,” Mr Crossingham said.

“It was low tide. There is a flat section about 10 metres out and then the waves are there so they must have waded out past that.”

The longtime surfer said he believed the growing number of whales swimming along the coast were attracting big sharks to the area but there were also reports of fish baitballs in the area.

“I don’t swim in deep water, I don’t go out where the waves are breaking,” Mr Crossingham said.

Authorities closed the beach, and officers from the Manning/Great Lakes Police District were working with experts from the Department of Primary Industries to determine the species of shark involved.

Mr Crossingham said he did not tend to swim where the waves were breaking or the deep water. Picture: Scott Calvin

Police blocked off the entrance to Crowdy Bay Beach. Picture: Scott Calvin

A little further north, the adjacent Port Macquarie Hastings Council took the precautionary measure to close North Haven Beach, Pilot Beach and Dunbogan Beach until further notice.

Surf Life Saving NSW CEO Steve Pearce said it was “a terrible tragedy”.

“Our deepest condolences go to the families of the woman and man involved,” he said.

“We have been able to activate our drone capability quickly and have assets on scene to provide surveillance and report on any remaining dangers in the area.

“For now, please remain clear of the water at beaches in the vicinity and follow the direction of lifeguards.”

SLSNSW had deployed UAV drones and other resources to monitor the area, supported by the rescue helicopters.

Authorities are working with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development to ensure safety.

The beach and surrounding areas would remain closed for at least 24 hours as drones continue surveillance.

Ms Penfold said she could not imagine the pain felt by the woman’s family. Picture: Gary Ramage

The remote coastline is unpatrolled, with the nearest surf club located some distance to the south at Crowdy Head.

The attack comes just over two months after a fatal shark incident at Dee Why on Sydney’s northern beaches.

Lyne federal Nationals MP Alison Penfold said she was “heartbroken” by the news of a young woman’s death

“I cannot imagine the pain and shock that family and loved ones are going through right now. I extend my deepest condolences to them and the wider Crowdy community in what is a devastatingly tragic loss of life,” she said.

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Originally published as How fatal shark attack at Crowdy Bay on NSW’s Mid-North Coast unfolded