Swimmer mauled to death by shark off South African coast

Chilling footage of a shark swimming off a packed beach seconds after mauling a man to death has been shared online.

Chilling footage of a shark swimming off a packed beach seconds after mauling a man to death has been shared online.

Horrified witnesses watched as the man was attacked at Sanctuary Beach in Plettenberg Bay on the South African coast.

The National Sea Rescue (NSRI) rushed to the scene and sent out two rescue crafts but were too late to save the man’s life.

The video was taken by Gunnar Sigge, who was on holiday in the area. He was reportedly on a hike in the Robberg Nature Reserve when he spotted the giant predator and started filming.

His video was taken at 2.10 pm - barely a minute after the alarm was raised to rescuers.

The swimmer is the thirteenth shark attack death off South Africa since 2010.

A Great White shark was spotted near the Sanctuary Beach in Plettenburg. A hiker captured this video at 14:10. According to the @NSRI, a deadly shark attack had taken place a minute earlier. Video supplied by Gunnar Sigge. @TimesLIVEpic.twitter.com/GTSfUGwcIV

— Naledi (@Naledi_Mailula) June 28, 2022

NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon said: “On arrival at the scene, the body of an adult male, believed to be a local, was recovered from the water from the back surf line onto an NSRI rescue craft.

“The body was brought to the NSRI Plettenberg Bay rescue station.

“An NSRI doctor, Western Cape EMS and the South African Police Services responded.”

Mr Lambinon confirmed the local government had closed all nearby beaches following the attack.

He said that sadly the injuries the man sustained were fatal and he was declared dead by the doctor.

“Condolences are conveyed to the family of the deceased man”, he continued.

“The NSRI and Bitou Municipality are appealing to sea users, bathes, sailors, paddlers and boaters in Plettenberg Bay and also on the Southern Cape coastline to exercise caution following this fatal incident.”

A swimmer has been killed in a brutal shark attack at a beach off the South African coast. @Naledi_Mailula

In February, a man was killed off Sydney’s Little Bay by a great white shark, the city’s first fatal shark attack in almost 60 years.

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

The man was swimming off Buchan Point near Little Bay Beach about 4.30pm Wednesday when he was killed. Remains of the swimmer were later found, including half a wetsuit, with onlookers watching in horror.

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