Australia surfing event cancelled due to shark attacks

A surfing event in an Australian state was called off on Wednesday due to multiple shark attacks that took place in the area earlier this week.

World Surf League (WSL) CEO Sophie Goldschmidt said that it was a difficult decision to cancel the popular Margaret River Pro event, but surfer and staff safety were paramount, reports Xinhua news agency.

On Monday, two surfers survived separate attacks just 6 km away from the event site.

The first incident occurred at Cobblestones beach in Gracetown when 37 year-old Alejandro Travaglini was mauled by a shark. He had to undergo emergency surgery on both legs.

Just hours later at a nearby beach known as Lefthanders, Jason Longgrass, 41, was also bitten on the leg.

Earlier that morning Surf Life Saving Western Australia reported several sightings of sharks in the area, including a four-metre Great White.

According to Australia's Shark Smart website, a decomposing whale carcass nearby was likely to be what had attracted the predators.

--IANS

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