Beaches closed in northern New South Wales after surfer dies from fatal shark attack in Ballina, a popular holiday destination
A surfer in Australia was killed by a twelve-foot shark on Monday after his legs were severed in an attack just 30 feet from shore at a beach north of Sydney.
Tadashi Nakahara, 41, from Japan, died from blood loss after an attack that
may be linked to a separate mauling which left a 35-year-old with wounds to
his back and hips at a nearby beach at the weekend.
Mr Nakahara, who has been living in the area for a year, was reportedly
sitting on his surfboard when the shark struck at about 9.45am at Shelly
Beach in Ballina, a popular holiday destination in northern New South Wales.
A video taken by a witness on the beach apparently shows a large amount of
blood in the water shortly after the attack.
Police said Mr Nakahara was surfing with a group and two people were close-by
to when a "very large" shark pounced.
"Two surfers rendered assistance and brought him to shore and a further
two other surfers who were in the area also paddled in and assisted to try
and attend to the injuries of the surfer," said Detective-Inspector
Cameron Lindsay.
"At this stage we believe he died of blood loss."
Authorities were examining the area to assess the threat to surfers and to try to find the shark. Beaches along a stretch of the state's north coast have been closed for 24 hours.
Australia has had a spate of fatal shark attacks in years.
Experts say the rise may be due to changing water temperatures or the increase in the number of people entering the water.
David Wright, the mayor of Ballina, told ABC News: "It's a terrible tragedy. Everyone in town is just dumbfounded. This shark is just cruising around.
"I'm a supporter of sharks but something has to be done about this one."
Shark attacks and kills dolphin off Burwood Beach, Newcastle, New South
Wales (Peter Lorimer/Newspix/REX)
The attack occurred about 400 miles north of the city of Newcastle, where all beaches were shut for more than a week last month due to repeated shark sightings.
"At this stage we believe he died of blood loss."
Authorities were examining the area to assess the threat to surfers and to try to find the shark. Beaches along a stretch of the state's north coast have been closed for 24 hours.
Australia has had a spate of fatal shark attacks in years.
Experts say the rise may be due to changing water temperatures or the increase in the number of people entering the water.
David Wright, the mayor of Ballina, told ABC News: "It's a terrible tragedy. Everyone in town is just dumbfounded. This shark is just cruising around.
"I'm a supporter of sharks but something has to be done about this one."
The attack occurred about 400 miles north of the city of Newcastle, where all beaches were shut for more than a week last month due to repeated shark sightings.
Peter Lorimer/Newspix/REX
