Australia shark attack: First fatal attack on Gold Coast beaches in 60 years

An Australian man has been killed in a shark attack off Queensland’s Gold Coast, marking the primary fatal attack on the vacationer metropolis’s beaches in over 60 years.

Nick Slater, 46, was at Greenmount Seashore at Coolangatta – a well known surf spot – when a shark mauled his leg on Tuesday.

Close by surfers discovered him floating in shallow water subsequent to his board.

He was rushed to shore and given first assist however died on the scene.

Authorities closed an 18km (11-mile) part of beaches on Wednesday to conduct helicopter and jetski searches for the shark – reported to be a 3m nice white.

“As soon as we all know that the shark will not be in the neighborhood or we now have tracked it, then the seaside can be reopened,” stated the town’s mayor Tom Tate.

He stated it was the primary shark dying at a Gold Coast seaside since 1958, including authorities have been investigating the occasion.

Mr Slater, an area actual property agent, had been browsing subsequent to Snapper Rocks level, which hosted a World Surf League competitors in March.

One witness informed the Courier Mail newspaper Mr Slater had been bitten throughout the higher leg, and “it was just about all taken”.

A surfer who offered assist, Jade Parker, stated there was a big chunk mark on Mr Slater’s board.

“It was in all probability about the identical circumference as a basketball… and there was a tooth nonetheless lodged in the fibreglass which I needed to take away,” he informed the Australian Broadcasting Company.

The Gold Coast is one in every of Australia’s most well-known vacationer locations, widespread for its lengthy white-sand beaches, browsing breaks and inland waterways.

Its beaches have been protected by shark nets and drumlines – baited hooks suspended underwater – for the reason that 1960s, and shark assaults have been uncommon.

Officers stated it was too early to say whether or not extra shark safety measures can be wanted.

The Gold Coast noticed a fatal shark attack in 2003, however that incident occurred inland in sprawling canals related to the ocean.

Mr Slater’s dying is the sixth fatal attack by a shark in Australia this yr, with most occurring alongside the nation’s east coast.

In June, two surfers have been fatally attacked in separate incidents off close by northern New South Wales.