Sydney: A teenage girl has died following a shark attack off the coast of a popular tourist destination in Australia, authorities confirmed.
Emergency responders were called to Woorim Beach on Bribie Island, approximately 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of Brisbane, around 5 p.m. (0600 GMT) on Monday after receiving reports of a serious shark bite incident, according to Queensland state police.
“The female was swimming when she was bitten by a shark … the female sustained life-threatening injuries and succumbed to those injuries,” a police spokesperson stated in an email.
A female swimmer died in a shark attack in the waters off a popular tourist spot on Australia's east coast https://t.co/bgxGTCc2ar pic.twitter.com/oYHUgfzvAW
— Reuters (@Reuters) February 4, 2025
While authorities have not officially disclosed the victim’s age, multiple Australian media outlets have reported that she was a 17-year-old girl.
Christopher Potter, a local resident, noted that Woorim Beach is frequently used by swimming groups throughout the day.
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“It’s known there are a lot of sharks around Bribie, but this close to shore, it’s still a shock,” he told ABC News.
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The incident has prompted renewed discussions about shark activity in the area, with experts urging swimmers to exercise caution, particularly in waters known for high marine life activity.
