CNN
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A 16-year-old woman has been attacked and killed by a shark whereas swimming in a river in Perth, Western Australia, native authorities mentioned.
{The teenager} was pronounced useless after being pulled from Swan River, CNN affiliate 9 Information reported.
“That is a particularly traumatic incident for anybody to witness,” Inspector Paul Robinson from Western Australia Police advised a press briefing.
Robinson mentioned the woman had jumped into the water to swim with a pod of dolphins that had been noticed close by.
Police had pulled her from the river and tried to avoid wasting her life however she died on the scene, he added.
Official investigations at the moment are underway.
Robinson mentioned it was not 12 months clear what sort of shark had attacked the woman, however native media studies have speculated that it might have been a bull shark – generally present in most rivers round Australia.
In 2021, a bull shark attacked an area man in his 50s in Swan River. He was pulled from the water by witnesses who tried to stem the bleeding from his leg.
Whereas bull sharks are typically aggressive, marine consultants have reiterated that assaults are nonetheless “extremely uncommon occasions.”
“The Swan River estuary is sweet bull shark habitat and this implies folks can come into shut contact with them,” mentioned Andrew Chin, a senior analysis fellow at James Prepare dinner College.
“Sadly some encounters finish badly and on this case with tragic outcomes.”
“Bull sharks might be very daring however additionally it is essential to keep in mind that these incidents are very, very uncommon occasions – (although) heartbreaking and traumatizing for everybody concerned,” he added.
“Everybody ought to observe swimmer and shark security recommendation from their native authorities (and) even be individually ready in case the worst occurs.”
