A man in his 50s has been taken to hospital after reportedly being attacked by a shark at a popular beach in Western Australia. The incident happened at Glenfield Beach, north of Geraldton, on Monday morning. Emergency services were alerted at about 9.45am.
Two St John Ambulance crews were sent to the beach shortly afterwards. The man was taken to Geraldton Hospital in a priority one ambulance, indicating that he was seriously injured and needed urgent medical care.
Authorities have not yet released further details about the man’s injuries or the circumstances surrounding the attack. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) said it was working with local authorities to manage the situation. More information is expected to be released as the response continues.
People in the area have been warned to remain careful around Glenfield Beach. Beachgoers have also been told to follow any temporary closures or safety warnings issued by authorities and Surf Life Saving WA.
The incident has also renewed concerns about the state’s shark management program.Kirrilee Warr, the Opposition’s fisheries spokeswoman, said the community needed to know that enough resources were being provided to protect people from shark attacks.
Ms Warr also questioned the effectiveness of the current monitoring system. She said fewer than 300 sharks had been tagged through the state’s monitoring program.She called for the system to be reviewed to determine whether it is providing enough protection for swimmers and surfers.
“Our thoughts are with the victim, their family and the first responders involved in this incident,” Ms Warr said. She added that only limited information was available at this stage. She said she was seeking further details from the authorities and the relevant minister. The investigation and emergency response are continuing. Authorities are expected to provide further updates as more information becomes available.
