Second suspected shark attack death in Australia

Image
AFP Sydney
Last Updated : Jun 05 2016 | 1:48 PM IST
A woman's body was found off the western Australian city of Perth with "significant injuries consistent with a shark attack", police said today, just two days after a surfer died after being mauled along the same coastline.
Western Australia police said they found the body on a boat ramp in Mindarie, after the woman was reportedly sighted injured in the water off the northern Perth suburb today morning.
"The deceased person has significant injuries that are consistent with a shark attack, however the cause of the injuries are yet to be confirmed," WA Police said in a statement, adding that inquiries were continuing.
No further details were released.
Surf Life Saving WA tweeted earlier today that a shark was sighted one kilometre (0.62 miles) offshore from Mindarie Beach.
The suspected attack came two days after Ben Gerring - a surfer who lost a leg in a mauling off Falcon Beach some 115 kilometres south of Mindarie on Tuesday - died in hospital.
The 29-year-old was with a group of surfers when a suspected great white pounced on him, ripping off his right leg above the knee and snapping his surfboard in half.
A 4.2-metre (nearly 14 foot) shark caught on Wednesday near to where the attack occurred was destroyed at sea, although authorities could not confirm whether it was responsible.
Deadly attacks are relatively rare, according to the International Shark Attack File, which in February reported a record 98 shark attacks worldwide last year.
However, only six were fatal, including one in Australia, it said.
Experts say attacks are increasing as water sports become more popular, but stress fatalities are uncommon.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Jun 05 2016 | 1:48 PM IST

Next Story