A shark attack at Kylies Beach in Crowdy Bay National Park, located 224 miles north of Sydney, resulted in the death of a woman and serious injuries to a man during an early morning swim on March 15, 2024. Emergency services responded to reports of the incident at approximately 6:30 a.m. local time.
The victims, both in their mid-20s and reportedly Swiss nationals, were swimming together when the shark attacked. According to Police Chief Inspector Timothy Bayly, the pair were known to each other. He stated, “At this stage, all I’m prepared to say is they were known to each other and they were going for a swim and the shark attacked.”
Bystander intervention played a critical role in the man’s survival. A passerby applied a makeshift tourniquet to the man’s leg before paramedics arrived. Paramedic Josh Smyth acknowledged the bystander’s efforts, stating it might have prevented a double fatality. The man was subsequently airlifted to a hospital, where his condition was described as serious but stable.
Steven Pearce, chief executive of Surf Life Saving NSW, expressed concern regarding the location, noting, “This area is so remote, there’s no lifeguarding services up there at all.” The identities of the victims have not been publicly disclosed. The Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed they are providing consular support to the victims’ relatives.
The shark involved in the attack has been identified as a large bull shark. In response, authorities deployed five drumlines—baited hooks suspended from floats—off Kylies Beach in an effort to capture the predator. Similar drumlines had already been set in nearby areas to manage shark populations.
Experts have commented on the rarity of such attacks. Gavin Naylor, director of the University of Florida’s shark research program, stated, “It is very unusual. Individual shark attacks are rare. And shark attacks on two people by the same individual is not unheard of, but it’s very rare.” He emphasized the need for further details regarding the shark’s behavior to understand the motivations behind the attack.
This incident follows another fatal shark attack in September 2023, where a surfer lost multiple limbs off a beach near Sydney. Shark encounters in Australia have historically been significant, with over 1,280 incidents reported since 1791, resulting in more than 250 fatalities.
In a separate incident earlier this month, an Australian windsurfer experienced a close call with a shark off the west coast. Andy McDonald, the windsurfer, described the moment he was knocked off his board, noting, “Everything was really nice, and then just out of the blue, bang, something so hard and strong hit me like a freight train.”
As authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack at Kylies Beach, the local community remains in shock over the tragic events that unfolded on that fateful morning.
