Swimmer Killed in Horrifying Shark Attack as Beachgoers Watch from Shore

A swimmer was killed in a horrifying shark attack off a popular beach in Western Australia on Friday, leaving witnesses stunned and forcing authorities to shut down miles of coastline.

The attack happened off Sorrento Beach, a busy swimming spot in Perth’s northern suburbs, shortly after 10 a.m. local time on Sept. 18.

Emergency crews received reports of the attack at about 10:15 a.m., according to ABC Australia. Police later confirmed that a male swimmer had died.

Witnesses said two men had been swimming when the attack unfolded, but only one made it back to shore.

One woman, Jacqui Rapaic, told ABC she had been walking along the beach with a friend when they noticed something was wrong.

She said she looked toward the water and saw a large pool of blood.

The attack happened so quickly that people nearby were left shaken.

Other witnesses told Australian television outlets they saw the swimmer being violently thrashed in the water as the shark attacked.

One beachgoer compared the scene to something out of “Jaws,” while another said the victim’s friend repeatedly said he had been unable to save him.

Those eyewitness descriptions have not all been independently confirmed by police, but authorities did confirm the fatal shark attack and immediately launched an emergency response.

Water police, helicopters and other responders searched the area while officers patrolled the shoreline.

A red surfboard was seen near the beach as investigators worked at the scene.

The City of Joondalup quickly closed all beaches within its boundaries, from Burns Beach in the north to Marmion in the south, and asked the public to stay away from the Sorrento Beach area.

ABC reported that nearly 7.5 miles of coastline, from Marmion to Iluka, was expected to remain closed until at least noon Saturday.

The attack came after a member of the public reported seeing a shark roughly 8 feet long in the area.

Drones were also reported to have spotted a large shark offshore, but authorities had not confirmed whether it was the same animal involved in the fatal attack.

The species responsible had also not been officially identified.

Sorrento Beach sits about 12 miles north of downtown Perth and is a popular destination for swimmers and families. It is located just south of Hillarys Boat Harbour, a major recreational and dining area.

Part of Sorrento Beach once had a shark barrier, but it was removed in 2020. Other beaches around Perth continue to use seasonal or permanent barriers.

The timing of the attack was especially alarming because it was the second reported shark attack in Western Australia in less than a week.

Earlier in the week, firefighter Mel Ismail survived a shark bite near Geraldton, about 260 miles north of Perth, and remained hospitalized in stable condition.

The fatal Sorrento attack was also the third deadly shark attack in Western Australia this year and the 24th fatal shark attack in the state since 2000, according to ABC.

Ten of those deaths occurred in the Perth metropolitan area.

Western Australia Premier Roger Cook called the incident a “heartbreaking tragedy” and said his thoughts were with the victim’s family, loved ones and the first responders who rushed to the scene.

The victim’s identity had not been publicly released as of the latest official update.