Surfer dies after shark 'bites off both his legs' in Australia
“At this initial stage we believe he died because of lack of blood despite some really heroic efforts by the people that have tried to save him,” a police investigator said.
A man was killed today after both his legs were apparently bitten off by a shark in eastern Australia, a day after a surfer suffered serious injuries in the same area.
Police said the man, thought to be Japanese, died at popular tourist spot Shelly Beach near Ballina, some 187 kilometres south of Brisbane.
A group of surfers helped get him out of the water and first aid was administered, but the man succumbed to his substantial injuries.
“We have a young male we think is a Japanese national, but enquiries are still ongoing. Around 9.45 this morning he has been the victim of a shark attack,” Detective Inspector Cameron Lindsay told the local Northern Star newspaper.
“At this initial stage we believe he died because of lack of blood despite some really heroic efforts by the people that have tried to save him,” Lindsay said.
Lindsay said there could be video of the moments before the mauling, or during it.
“There was quite a number of witnesses we’ve been talking to. We believe that either the attack, or just prior to the attack, was captured on video,” he said.