The fatal incident occurred in Western Australia on Saturday, May 16
Credit: ABC News (Australia)
NEED TO KNOW
- On Saturday, May 16, a man was fatally attacked by a shark near Rottnest Island, Australia
- Emergency responders attempted CPR on the victim but were unable to revive him
- Authorities are monitoring the area and warning visitors to exercise caution near Horseshoe Reef and Marjorie Bay
A man died in a shark attack at a tourist hotspot in Australia.
At around 9:55 a.m. local time on Saturday, May 16, a man was fatally attacked by a shark while in the water at Horseshoe Reef, near Rottnest Island, the St. John WA Ambulance said in a statement to PEOPLE.
"A 38-year-old man was in the water at Horseshoe Reef when he was believed to have been bitten by a shark," a spokesperson said.
“The man was conveyed by vessel to shore, where he was met by St. John WA paramedics. Sadly, the man was unable to be revived," the statement concluded.
The man, who has not been publicly identified at this time, is believed to have been attacked by a 13-foot Great White Shark.
He was initially transported by boat to the Geordie Bay jetty, a fishing pier on Rottnest Island, where paramedics gave him CPR, but he succumbed to his injuries, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and News.com.au.
Footage obtained by ABC shows the moment first responders at the scene placed the man's body in the back of an ambulance around an hour and a half after the fatal attack.
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Credit: Getty
Witness Jarrad Young, who was visiting Rottnest for a wedding at the time of the attack, told ABC, “Everyone was watching on as they were doing CPR … it didn’t look too good in the end, which is unfortunate.”
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development said in a statement to the outlet that a department patrol vessel is going on the water to monitor the area where the attack occurred.
Visitors have been warned to take additional caution around the Horseshoe Reef and Marjorie Bay areas.
The WA Police is preparing a report for the Coroner.
PEOPLE has reached out to the WA Police for comment.
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