A woman was left critically injured after a horrifying shark attack at a popular beach in Australia.
Emergency services rushed to Coogee Beach in Sydney around 11:15 a.m. local time on Saturday, June 13, after reports that a swimmer had been bitten by a shark, according to New South Wales Police.
Authorities said members of the public pulled the woman from the water and began giving first aid before emergency crews arrived.
“The woman was pulled from the water by members of the public who commenced first aid before the arrival of emergency services,” police said.
Officers also helped treat the woman, who is believed to be in her 30s, before NSW Ambulance paramedics arrived.
Police said she suffered serious injuries to her arms and legs. Randwick Council said the woman was left in critical condition and airlifted to St. Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney.
NSW Ambulance Inspector Mike Corlis told Nine News that the woman suffered significant injuries to her left lower leg and upper arms.
Photos from the scene showed beachgoers and medical workers gathered around the injured woman while towels were held up around her.
A video posted by The Sydney Morning Herald appeared to show the shark swimming away shortly after the attack.
One eyewitness told Nine News the woman had apparently been swimming laps in the ocean before the terrifying scene unfolded.
“I think the woman had been doing laps in the ocean beforehand, then there was a lot of splashing and thrashing around,” the witness said. “There was a huge amount of blood in the water.”
Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker praised lifeguards and emergency responders for acting quickly during the frightening incident.
“Council lifeguards and emergency responders acted quickly in difficult circumstances, and their efforts have been nothing short of extraordinary,” Parker said, according to News.com.au.
He said many people who witnessed the attack were badly shaken.
“Unsurprisingly, there are lots of very shaken-up individuals right now having witnessed a very scary incident,” Parker said. “Our hearts and thoughts go out to the woman, her friends and family. The whole community is behind her and wishing her a speedy recovery.”
Following the attack, Coogee, Clovelly, and Bronte beaches were closed as authorities responded to the incident.
Officials have not publicly released the woman’s identity.
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