A man in his thirties was in a “critical” condition Saturday after being attacked by a shark in Western Australia, rescue services told AFP.
The incident took place after 10:00 am (0200 GMT) off Rottnest Island near the city of Perth, a spokesperson for St John Ambulance Western Australia said.
“The rescue helicopter is on scene, along with police and island emergency services,” they added.
There have been nearly 1,300 shark incidents around Australia since 1791, of which more than 260 resulted in death, according to a database of the predators’ encounters with humans.
The most recent fatality was a 12-year-old boy who died after being attacked by a shark in Sydney Harbour in January. Related News How weak emergency system turns survival into tragedy Fire destroys shops, goods at Kwara market PSHAN unveils platform to improve healthcare access
