Teen Girl Killed by Shark at Popular Tourist Beach

A 17-year-old girl tragically succumbed to a shark attack at a popular tourist beach in Australia on Monday, marking the third fatal shark encounter in the country in less than six weeks. The Queensland Ambulance Services were summoned to Woorim Beach, situated north of Brisbane, around 4:45 p.m. local time, following reports of a severe shark bite. Despite the immediate response of the paramedics, the teenager’s severe upper body injuries proved fatal within 15 minutes of the attack.

The young girl was reportedly swimming approximately 100 yards off Bribie Island when the shark struck. Local sources indicate that the shark bit the girl on the arm. Woorim Beach, where the incident took place, is known to have drumlines installed. These devices, which are barrels anchored to the sea floor with baited hooks, are used as a shark-control measure. Sharks caught on these hooks are either euthanized or relocated.

In recent weeks, the region has seen other victims of shark attacks. On January 2, a 28-year-old man named Lance Appleby was attacked while surfing at Granites beach in South Australia. Appleby disappeared before rescuers could reach him and was declared dead after a five-day search. On December 28, a 40-year-old pastor, Luke Walford, was fatally bitten on the neck by a shark while spearfishing near Queensland’s Keppel Bay Islands National Park, part of the Great Barrier Reef.

Australia has witnessed a significant surge in deadly shark attacks over the past two years. In 2023 alone, there were five attacks off the Australian coast, three of which resulted in fatalities. Historical records reveal that Australia has documented more than 1,200 shark attacks since 1791, with over 250 of these attacks leading to fatalities, accounting for more than 20% of the total attacks.