'The shark came back and had another go' - Man killed by two-metre predator

By Sarah Dean, Melissa Hills and Daniel Piotrowski

Daily Mail·

9 Sep, 2014 04:00 AM3 mins to read

Nine News footage of the shark in Byron Bay waters. Photo / Nine News

A man has died while swimming after being attacked by a shark at Byron Bay in NSW, Australia.

The man, believed to be in his 40s, was bitten on his right leg by a shark at the southern end of Main beach, according to witnesses.

Michelle Campano, who is holidaying in Byron Bay, told Daily Mail Australia: "It was so horrible we were swimming and got yelled out of the water. It took them 45 minutes to close the beach. I think the whole town is in shock."

A NSW Ambulance spokeswoman confirmed a man had been treated for a severe injury to his leg on Clarkes Beach near Main Beach. A doctor performed CPR on the man but he could not be saved, the spokeswoman said.

The man, who is from Byron Bay, has been formally identified by a family member. His age is yet to be confirmed.

A witness, who was paddle boarding in the water when the attack happened, pulled the victim to shore.

Lawyer Mark Hickey said the victim appeared to have been swimming at the time and it is thought he was doing the popular swim from The Pass to Byron Bay.

UPDATE: Large shark spotted near scene of fatal attack at Byron Bay. Police to address media at 1.30pm. #9Newscomau pic.twitter.com/C4qGx5ON5C
— Nine News Sydney (@9NewsSyd) September 9, 2014

He saw what he thought was a turtle and some seaweed in the water about 20 metres away but then realised it was blood and a two metre shark circling.

"The shark came back to him and had another go. I didn't know it was a person - but when I realised I ran out and waded to the bank and grabbed him and did CPR but it was too late.

"I brought him back in and worked on him on the beach," he told the the Sydney Daily Telegraph.

Emergency services attend Clarkes Beach at Byron Bay in far northern New South Wales. Photo / AAP

Mr Hickey performed CPR for 20-30 minutes on the victim before rescuers arrived.

Holidaygoer Christian Campano, 35, told Daily Mail Australia everyone on the beach was shocked.

"(It was) pretty heavy, we're just in shock," Mr Campano said. "It's all starting to hit home."

He and his wife, Michelle, had gone for dip in the ocean when they were pulled from the water after the attack.

The couple headed up the beach and saw the victim receiving CPR.

Eventually, he saw police officers place a blanket over the man's head. "He just looked still," Mr Campano said.

Police have closed all Byron Bay beaches - from Tallows in the south to Belongil Beach in the north - to the public for the next 24 hours.

NSW government officers are being brought in to determine the type of shark involved in the attack.

A spokesman for NSW Ambulance said: "A rescue helicopter and paramedics were dispatched to the scene. A doctor immediately treated the man on the beach but unfortunately despite clinical intervention including CPR the man has been pronounced deceased on the beach as a result of his fatal injuries."