Nick Slater (46) was attacked by a shark while surfing at Greenmount Beach at Coolangatta off Queensland’s Gold Coast on Tuesday September 8.
This is the first fatal attack in the area in over 60 years and the 6th fatal attack by shark in Australia for 2020.
He was discovered floating in the shallows next to his board by other surfers, who worked quickly to get him on dry land, according to the BBC.
Slater was given first aid, the shark had bitten across the upper part of one of his legs. Sadly Slater succumbed to his wound.
Local authorities closed an 18km stretch of beaches on Wednesday, September 11 to search for the shark via helicopter and jetski. The shark is believed to be a 3m great white, according to the BBC. These animals are listed as vulnerable on the IUCN’s Red List.
Since the last fatal attack in 1958 there was a fatal incident in 2003 too. This attack occurred in canals connected to the ocean and not along a beach.
A man dies after a rare #shark attack off Greenmount Beach on Australia’s Gold Coast.
Queensland state Ambulance Service said the surfer suffered a bite to the leg and was brought to shore. pic.twitter.com/nAMiXwa91F
— Bloomberg QuickTake (@QuickTake) September 9, 2020
Image credit: Unsplash
