Woman dead, man now stable after shark attack at Crowdy Bay on NSW mid-north coast
Harrowing footage and shark bite experts will be used to confirm that a mature bull shark was responsible for the fatal mauling of a young Swiss tourist and injury of her boyfriend, who is now recovering in hospital.
Harrowing footage and shark bite experts will be used to confirm that one shark – suspected of being a mature bull shark – was responsible for the fatal mauling of a young Swiss tourist before critically injuring her boyfriend as he came to her aid.
The tourists, both aged in their 20s, are believed to have been filming themselves swimming with dolphins just over an hour after dawn and less than 50m off Kylies Beach, on the Mid North Coast, when the shark attacked.
It is believed the woman was attacked first before her partner was mauled on the right leg, the man still being able to get his girlfriend back to shore with the help of bystanders.
It is believed the couple may have inadvertently filmed the attack while videoing their swim with the dolphins.
The woman could not be saved while her partner 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.
The man is now in a stable condition and has been transferred from the ICU at John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle.
It is understood he will remain at the hospital where he will continue to be treated for his injuries.
Police say both their families have not yet been contacted.
A female bystander who applied the tourniquet to the male is said to have been affected by the ordeal but relieved he has survived.
NSW Ambulance Mid North Coast zone manager Supt Josh Smyth praised the same female bystander, telling reporters that her actions may have potentially saved his life.
A NSW Ambulance spokesperson earlier said they had dispatched six resources in total to the scene after the early morning incident report.
They included a helicopter with a doctor and critical care paramedic, five vehicles consisting of three ambulances each with two paramedics and two inspector vehicles to provide high-level advice on the scene.
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 at around 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 Birdcutt said the horrific scene unfurled around 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 what was going on from onlookers with Mr Birdcutt saying “he had no idea” of what was going on at that stage and was only alerted later by his wife that she had heard it was a shark attack.
Later at the campsite Mr Birdcutt saw the Westpac Helicopter arrive at around 7.20am when the man was transferred to it.
According to Mr Birdcutt and other campers the shark victims arrived at the campsite at around 9pm on Wednesday night in a car with Queensland plates.
Police collected the tent and the pair’s belongings on Thursday morning.
Mr Birdcutt said nothing similar had happened in the two previous times he visited the campsite.
He also said he went for a deep ocean swim the previous day without incident.
Taree local Robert Crossingham 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 told the Daily Telegraph.
“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 believes 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.
Authorities have closed the beach, and officers from the Manning/Great Lakes Police District are working with experts from the Department of Primary Industries to determine the species of shark involved.
A little further north the adjacent Port Macquarie Hastings Council has taken the precautionary measure to close the following beaches until further notice: North Haven Beach, Pilot Beach and Dunbogan Beach.
Surf Life Saving NSW CEO Steve Pearce said it “is 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 has deployed UAV drones and other resources to monitor the area, supported by the Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter.
Authorities are working with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development to ensure safety.
The beach and surrounding areas will remain closed for at least 24 hours as drones continue surveillance.
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,” she said.
“I extend my deepest condolences to them and the wider Crowdy community in what is a devastatingly tragic loss of life.”
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Originally published as Woman dead, man now stable after shark attack at Crowdy Bay on NSW mid-north coast
