Beaches Closed After Shark Attack
Sydney Beaches Close After Shark Attack Leaves Woman in Critical Condition
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A shark attacked a 35-year-old woman at Coogee Beach in Sydney on June 13, leaving her in critical condition with life-changing injuries. Bystanders pulled her from the water and began first aid on the sand before she was airlifted to St Vincent's Hospital, according to ABC News Australia.
The attack prompted Randwick City Council to close Coogee, Clovelly, and Bronte beaches for at least 24 to 48 hours. It is the latest in a brutal stretch for Australia, which has already recorded four shark-related fatalities in 2026, according to Reuters.
Bystanders and Lifeguards Race to Save the Victim
The woman was swimming with two friends about 30 meters from shore when the shark struck. She suffered a 12-inch-wide bite to her thigh and severe injuries to her arm. Lifeguard Charlie Verco was first on the scene, paddling toward her on a 5.5-meter board. "I saw the shark come out of the water and just the size of it shocked me," Verco told The Sunday Telegraph. "The shark took her underwater... a couple of seconds later, she popped up again."
Off-duty doctor Ian Ferguson was at the beach with his family and helped treat the victim. "There was a big cloud of blood in the water," he told CBS News. "She had a 30-centimeter bite on her thigh, the flesh had been removed and bone was exposed." Eight emergency crews arrived within minutes. Police cleared nearby Coogee Oval so a CareFlight helicopter could land and airlift her to hospital.
2026 Has Already Seen Four Fatal Shark Attacks in Australia
The Coogee attack is part of what experts are calling an alarming spike in shark incidents across Australia. Before June 13, four people had already died in 2026. A 12-year-old boy, Niko Antic, was killed by a bull shark in Sydney Harbour in January. Three more men — aged 35, 38, and 39 — died in separate attacks in May and early June off Western Australia and Queensland, according to ABC News Australia.
Scientists point to a "perfect storm" of conditions. Sydney had its wettest January in 38 years, with 127mm of rain falling in 24 hours. That washed sewage and nutrients into the ocean, creating the murky water that bull sharks prefer for hunting, according to Dr. Rebecca Olive of RMIT University, as reported by The Guardian.
NSW Spends Millions on Drones and Drumlines but Debate Rages
The NSW government has poured an extra $6.7 million into its Shark Management Program for 2025/26. The money funds drone surveillance across 80 beaches and new listening stations in Sydney Harbour, according to SharkSmart NSW. In 2026, SMART drumlines — devices that catch and tag sharks — captured 312 target sharks, with 99% released alive.
But the tools are divisive. Conservationists say roughly 90% of animals caught in shark nets are non-target species, including dolphins and turtles, according to Sea Shepherd. Meanwhile, NSW has also suspended trials to remove shark nets following a fatality in late 2025. The Coogee attack is expected to delay any move toward a net-free environment further, according to ABC News Australia.
Politicians Split Between Culling and Science-Based Solutions
The spate of attacks has ignited a fierce political debate. MP Bob Katter and some opposition leaders in Western Australia have called for a "catch and kill" policy, arguing that current shark protections put animals above human lives, according to Sky News Australia. Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker said the council would wait for NSW government guidance before reopening the beaches.
On the other side, Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson called state-led measures "lazy and ineffective" and pushed for a national, science-based plan focused on non-lethal deterrents. A YouGov and University of Sydney survey found that 85% of Australians believe beaches can never be fully safe from sharks, reflecting a public that is both pragmatic and fearful, according to Forbes.
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