Man dies in fifth fatal shark attack this year in Australia

A man has died after being mauled by a shark while swimming at a popular beach in the state of Western Australia.

It is the fifth fatal shark attack this year and comes just days after a surfer was attacked and bitten by a shark in the same ​state.

Emergency services were ​called to a reported shark-related incident in the water ⁠off Sorrento Beach, in Perth's northern suburbs, on Friday at around 10.30am local time (2.30am UK time), police said.

"It ​was reported a male swimmer had been bitten by a shark ​while swimming along the coast," the Western Australia Police Force said in a statement.

Authorities launched an extensive air and sea search involving boats and helicopters, but the swimmer died as a result ​of his injuries, police added.

Witnesses described the swimmer as a man in his 60s, but police gave no details about the victim.

Police would not say whether remains had been recovered, and no information was given on which species of shark was involved.

Witnesses reported seeing blood in the water after the attack.

Darrel Haythornthwaite, who was at the scene, told Nine Network television that the victim had been swimming with a friend.

The local ‌council ⁠said it had shut all beaches in its jurisdiction following the attack.

In a separate incident on Monday, a surfer lost a foot and suffered serious leg injuries after he was attacked by a shark at a beach in Geraldton, about 250 miles (400km) north of Perth, according to local media reports.

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There have been four other fatal shark incidents off the Australian coast this year.

Three spearfishing divers died after shark attacks in four weeks over May and June.

In January, a 12-year-old boy succumbed to his injuries days after he was savaged by a bull shark in Sydney Harbour.

(c) Sky News 2026: Man dies in fifth fatal shark attack this year in Australia