Teen surfer dies after being mauled by shark off Esperance, WA

THE 17-year-old girl who was mauled by a shark off the WA coast while her parents watched in horror has been identified as Laeticia Brouwer.

A 17-year-old girl surfing with her dad has become the third victim of a fatal shark attack in Western Australia in a year.

A 17-YEAR-OLD girl who was taken by a shark while her parents watched in horror has been identified as Laeticia Brouwer.

PerthNow reports Laeticia, or “Teesh” Brouwer, was grabbed by the shark at Kelp Beds, near Wylie Bay, in Esperance while surfing with her father just before 4pm on Easter Monday. She has become the third victim of a fatal shark attack in Western Australia in a year.

Wylie Bay Beach is closed today, and the Department of Fisheries will be conducting beach and water patrols from early in the day.

The teen reportedly suffered massive blood loss and died at Esperance Hospital a couple of hours after the attack.

Esperance shark attack victim Laeticia Maree Brouwer. Picture: Supplied

Surfers and swimmers have been advised against going into the water for at least two days.

Her mother and two sisters reportedly watched in horror from the beach as she was mauled by the shark.

“The girl’s father had been some distance away at the time of the attack and heard her scream before she was pulled under water by the shark,” The West Australian newspaper reported.

“When she resurfaced, her father paddled over and dragged her to the shore with the help of another teenager.”

Shark attack victim 17-year-old Laeticia (Teesh) Brouwer (first left). Picture: LeonandJulie Brouwer/Facebook

“Condolences to the family and friends of the victim involved in today’s tragedy,” Esperance police tweeted. “Devastating circumstances”.

The family is from Singleton, near Mandurah.

17yo girl fighting for her life after Wylie Bay shark attack. #esperance pic.twitter.com/kCNdidIXa6

— Caitlyn Rintoul (@caitlynrintoul) April 17, 2017

Police, ambulance and Esperance Marine Rescue treated the teen on the beach before she was taken to Esperance Hospital in a critical condition. But she died from her massive injuries.

Sean Pollard lost both hands in a shark attack at the same beach in 2014.

The teenage girl is WA’s third fatal shark victim in a year. Last June surfer Ben Gerring died at Mandurah and diver Doreen Collyer was killed while diving at Mindarie Marina.

RECENT SHARK ATTACKS IN WA

June 5, 2016: Doreen Collyer, 60, died while diving a kilometre out from Mindarie Marina between One and Three Mile reefs

Shark attack victim Doreen Collyer, killed while scuba diving off Mindarie on June 5. Picture: Sourced by Trevor Paddenburg.

June 4, 2016: Ben Gerring, 29, was killed after having his leg severed by a great white shark at Falcon Beach, in Mandurah.

Shark attack victim Ben Gerring. Picture: Supplied

December 29, 2014: Jay Muscat, 17, is killed by a great white while spearfishing at Cheynes Beach near Albany, WA.

Sheryl, Mark and Ebony Muscat (17), a year on after the death of Jay Muscat. Picture: News Corp

October 2, 2014: Sean Pollard, 23, loses both hands after a shark attack at Wylie Bay Beach, near Esperance, WA.

Sean Pollard is trialling the i-limb, which is a hi-tech prosthetic hand, after losing both arms in a shark attack. Picture: News Corp