Key facts
- A woman in her 30s is in critical condition after a shark attack at Coogee Beach, Sydney.
- She sustained severe arm and leg injuries from a 3.5-meter shark.
- Elite paddleboarder Charlie Verco rescued the victim, assisting her to shore.
- This incident is the fourth shark attack in Australia in recent weeks.
- Beaches from Bondi to Maroubra were closed for at least 24 hours following the attack.
A woman in her 30s is in critical condition after a shark attack at Coogee Beach in Sydney, Australia. Elite paddleboarder Charlie Verco was training for the world championships when he heard a swimmer shout "shark" and witnessed the attack.
Verco described seeing a large grey shadow in the water and swimmers attempting to climb onto his paddleboard. He noted the shark appeared inquisitive. As another woman screamed and was dragged by something, Verco saw the shark's dorsal fin, estimating its size at 3.5 meters. He managed to help the victim, who had lost consciousness, to grab his board and paddled her towards shore.
Bystanders assisted in bringing the woman ashore. She sustained severe arm and leg injuries and was transported by ambulance to St Vincent's hospital in a critical condition. Multiple crews had treated her on the beach.
Following the incident, all beaches from Bondi to Maroubra were closed for at least 24 hours. This marks the fourth serious shark incident in Sydney since September 2025, according to Surf Life Saving NSW.