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Australian tourist is killed by a shark in New Caledonia just steps from a crowded pontoon with horrified witnesses watching the animal attack him multiple times.
- The man was swimming on the beach of Chateau-Royal
- Witnesses said the shark attacked him several times
- The 59-year-old man died on the ground from his injuries.
An Australian man has tragically died after being attacked by a shark while on holiday in New Caledonia.
The 59-year-old tourist was swimming near a crowded pontoon about 150 meters offshore at Chateau-Royal beach, south of Nouméa, on Sunday.
Horrified onlookers said the shark attacked the man, biting him multiple times on the leg and arms.
Two people who were in their boat nearby pulled the man out of the water and brought him to shore where emergency services worked to save him.
However, despite the attempts of several paramedics, the man died from his serious injuries.
A 59-year-old Australian man has tragically died after being attacked by a shark while on holiday in New Caledonia.
The man was swimming near a crowded pontoon 150 meters offshore at Chateau-Royal beach (pictured), south of Nouméa, when he was attacked.
The mayor of Nouméa, Sonia Lagarde, closed most of the beaches in the area after the attack and ordered the capture of tiger sharks and bull sharks sighted in nearby waters.
Authorities used drones to search for the predator and spotted two sharks before the operation was called off at nightfall.
Local prosecutor Yves Dupas said an investigation would help identify the circumstances of the attack, which occurred inside the area guarded by lifeguards.
It comes after two swimmers were attacked by sharks off nearby beaches last month.
A 49-year-old swimmer was seriously injured by a shark off the same beach on January 29. Five days later, a shark rammed a surfer but he escaped unharmed.
New Caledonia is located south of Vanuatu and 1,200 km east of Australia. The French Pacific territory is known for its palm-fringed beaches, beautiful reefs, and rich marine life.
The Florida Museum’s International Shark Attack File ranks New Caledonia 13th in the world for the total number of shark attacks since 1958.