17yo dead after being bitten by shark off Bribie Island identified

Friends and family have gathered to pay tribute to a 17-year-old girl who was killed after she was bitten by a shark off Bribie Island.

A teenage girl has been killed in a shark attack at a popular surfing beach off Bribie Island, north of Brisbane.

The 17-year-old was swimming about 100m offshore when she was bitten by the shark and sustained life-threatening injuries.

She has since been identified as Charlize Zmuda, according to the Courier-Mail.

Emergency services were called to Woorim Beach about 4.45pm on Monday, with authorities describing the incident as “serious”.

It has been reported the girl suffered injuries to her arm and upper body.

Despite the efforts of emergency services, she could not be saved.

It is understood the 17-year-old was with friends at the beach when the incident occurred.

Witness Chris Potter told the Courier-Mail he heard a piercing scream coming from the water, initially leading to people thinking she had been “caught in a rip”.

“It was shocking,” he told the masthead.

Following the tragedy, the teenager’s friends and family could be seen gathering and hugging each other on the beach, paying their respects to the teenager with a carton of beer.

A teenage girl has died after she was attacked by a shark on Bribie Island. Picture: ABC News

She could not be saved despite the efforts of emergency service crews who rushed to the scene at Woorim Beach. Picture: Facebook

Queensland Ambulance Service said they were called following reports of “a serious shark bite incident”.

Queensland Police confirmed her death in a statement.

“The female sustained life-threatening injuries and succumbed to those injuries just after 5pm,” police said.

Woorim Ocean Beach is located on the eastern side of Bribie Island, and is a popular destination for surfers.

Drumlines, which are used to catch sharks using bait and large hooks, are used at Woorim Beach. Drone surveillance is also undertaken.

Local resident Chris Potter told the Courier Mail he knew something awful had happened when he heard a piercing scream come from the water.

“People originally thought she had just been caught in a rip,” he said.

“It was shocking.”

Mr Potter said shark sightings were often around Bribie Island however he had never known for them to get too close to the shoreline.

Emergency services were called to Woorim Beach on Bribie Island about 4.45pm local time on Monday. Picture: 7 news

Monday’s incident is the third fatal shark attack this summer.

In December, 40-year-old pastor Luke Walford was killed while spearfishing in the Southern Great Barrier Reef near Humpy Island.

In January, surfer Lance Appleby, 28, was killed in a shark attack off the coast of South Australia.

Earlier in December, a man spearfishing was hospitalised after being attacked by a shark off Curtis Island, near Gladstone.