Swimmer killed in Little Bay shark attack, beaches closed

Beaches across the eastern suburbs will be closed today after Sydney’s first fatal shark attack in 60 years.

Sydney has been rocked by its first fatal shark attack in almost 60 years after a swimmer was killed at Little Bay on Wednesday.

Human remains were found by rescuers about 6pm, almost an hour-and-a-half after a fisherman first reported a person in the water had been attacked and dragged under by a shark.

The death has prompted Randwick Council to close beaches from Clovelly to La Perouse for 24 hours.

Police, surf rescue and members of the public look on as emergency services try to retrieve a diving buoy after a shark attack at Little Bay. Picture: Richard Dobson

A person has been killed after a shark attack at Little Bay on Wednesday. Picture: TNV

Distressing video captured by witnesses fishing on rocks at the north end of Little Bay shows the moment the predator attacks in a flurry of thrashing before the ocean turns red with blood and the shark and its victim disappear beneath the surface.

“Someone just got eaten by a shark,” a man can be heard yelling in footage.

“A big great white, that’s a great white ... oh no, oh no... that’s insane ... the person’s still there.”

Other fishermen on the rocks can be heard swearing and shouting in horror as the attack unfolds.

Rescue helicopters, police search boats and jet skis were called to Buchan Point near Little Bay Beach and searched desperately for the swimmer until the grim discovery of human remains. Parts of a wetsuit were also recovered.

“Unfortunately, this person had suffered catastrophic injuries as a result of the attack and there was nothing paramedics could do when we arrived on scene,” NSW Ambulance Inspector Lucky Phrachanh said.

Emergency services at Little Bay on Wednesday afternoon. Picture: Richard Dobson

Emergency services at Little Bay after a shark attack on Wednesday afternoon. Picture: Richard Dobson

The attack was observed by a number of people who claimed they saw a great white shark up to 4.5m long. Witnesses also reported they heard the swimmer yelling.

“We heard a yell and turned around, it looked like a car had landed in the water, a big splash then the shark was chomping at the body and there was blood everywhere,” Kris Linto told Nine News.

Another man who was fishing off the rocks said. he saw the swimmer get dragged under the water.

“He was yelling at first, and then when he went down there were so many splashes,” he told the ABC.

“The shark won’t stop. It was terrible. I am shaking. I keep vomiting. It’s very, very upsetting.

“He just went down for a swim, enjoying the day, but that shark took his life.”

Police responded to reports of a shark attack at Little Bay on Wednesday afternoon. Picture: ABC/Stephen Hutcheon

Human remains have been found after a suspected shark attack at Little Bay. Picture: TNV

Officers remained at the scene for a number of hours after the incident, taking statements from witnesses. Last night they removed an SUV from the carpark at neighbouring Malabar Beach.

NSW Police said they would now be liaising with the Department of Primary Industry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death.

A report will also be prepared for the Coroner.

Randwick Council has closed beaches from Clovelly to La Perouse for 24 hours and directed lifeguards to patrol the waters looking for the shark.

Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker said the community was in shock.

“Little Bay is normally such a calm, beautiful place enjoyed by families,” he said. “To lose someone to a shark attack like this is chilling.”

Human remains have been found after a shark attack at Little Bay. Picture: TNV

Emergency services at Little bay after a shark attack on Wednesday. Picture: Richard Dobson

Human remains have been found after a shark attack at Little Bay. Picture: TNV

Actor Marcia Hathaway was killed after a shark attack in 1963.

The death is the first fatal shark attack in Sydney since actress Marcia Hathaway was killed as she waded in the shallows of Sydney Harbour in 1963.

Miss Hathaway was in the water at Sugarloaf Bay, Middle Harbour, with her fiance Frederick Knight when a bull shark mauled her right leg.

Mr Knight wrestled the shark off her as friends came running with pieces of torn-up sheets to use as tourniquets.

“Don’t worry about me, dear. God will look after me,” she reportedly told Mr Knight as she was losing masses of blood from her femoral artery.

As the ambulance was rushing her away it broke down, causing up to 30 onlookers to try and push the vehicle up the hill away from Sugarloaf Bay.

She was dead by the time a back-up ambulance arrived.

Wednesday’s attack came just days out from the annual Murray Rose Malabar Magic Ocean Swim which is scheduled to take place at the neighbouring Malabar Beach on Sunday.

Originally published as Swimmer killed in Little Bay shark attack, beaches closed