Key facts
- A 35-year-old woman was critically injured in a shark attack at Sydney's Coogee Beach.
- The shark involved was estimated to be three to four meters long.
- The victim sustained serious injuries to her arms and lower left leg.
- Coogee Beach reopened on Monday with increased patrols.
- A review of drone flight restrictions for shark spotting is underway.
Coogee Beach in Sydney reopened on Monday with enhanced patrols following a shark attack that critically injured a 35-year-old woman. The victim was swimming about 30 meters from shore on Saturday morning when a three-to-four-meter-long shark bit her, causing serious injuries to her arms and lower left leg. She remains in hospital in stable condition.
Lifeguards and jet ski patrols are monitoring the beach, and a shark-spotting drone is in operation. The incident has prompted a safety review, including consideration of drone flight restrictions, as water safety is a high priority for Sydney's popular coastal areas. This attack is the latest in a series of shark encounters along Australia's coast, with a Reuters analysis indicating a gradual rise in such incidents over the past decade.
While shark encounters are statistically rare, the attack has reignited debate over shark culling, a contentious issue. Some experts believe the shark involved was a great white, a protected species, making lethal action legally complex. New South Wales authorities are considering all safety measures, prioritizing technology.