A heroic backpacker fought desperately to save his girlfriend during a terrifying shark attack at a remote beach on the New South Wales mid-north coast, in a tragic incident that ultimately claimed the young woman's life.
A Morning Swim Turns to Tragedy
The Swiss couple, aged 25 and 26, were swimming at the unpatrolled Kylies Beach within Crowdy Bay National Park at approximately 6.30am on Thursday when they were attacked by a suspected bull shark. The remote beach, which is only accessible by 4WD, was where the pair had set up camp late the previous night.
In a display of immense courage, the 26-year-old man managed to drag his 25-year-old partner 50 metres back to shore after the attack. Bystanders rushed to assist, with one person applying a makeshift tourniquet to the man's severely injured leg.
Despite the frantic efforts of these Good Samaritans and the man's heroic rescue attempt, the young woman could not be saved.
Emergency Response and Investigation
The male victim suffered serious leg injuries and was airlifted to John Hunter Hospital, where he remains in a serious but stable condition. The difficult-to-access location of the beach reportedly caused delays for emergency services arriving at the scene.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development stated that a large bull shark over 3 metres long was likely responsible for the attack. Following the incident, the department deployed shark sighting technology at Kylies Beach and in nearby areas, but no sharks were detected.
Kylies Beach remains closed as investigations into the tragic event continue.
Increased Shark Surveillance and Safety Warnings
Surf Life Saving NSW CEO Steven Pearce noted the uncommon nature of an attack involving two people simultaneously. He confirmed that Surf Life Saving NSW would maintain a presence in the area, using drones for surveillance.
Pearce revealed that drones flown by the organisation last year spotted 1000 target sharks—bull sharks and white sharks—requiring water evacuations or warnings on 800 occasions. He emphasised that many of these sharks were spotted just 15 metres from the shore.
The official urged swimmers to avoid the water between dusk and dawn and to steer clear of areas with large numbers of fish. His advice was straightforward: "If you just think it’s too unsafe or too dangerous just don’t go in."
This tragic event marks the fifth fatal shark attack in Australia this year, following the death of 57-year-old Mercury Psillakis, who was killed by a great white while surfing off Long Reef Beach in Sydney last September.
