Woman Sustains Serious Injuries in Shark Attack at Sydney’s Coogee Beach

A 35‑year‑old woman was pulled from the water and badly injured after a shark opened its jaws on her at Coogee Beach in Sydney, police said on Sunday morning.

The victim suffered serious arm and leg wounds and was airlifted to a hospital by helicopter. The Sydney Department of Police and the Australian Coast Guard closed several nearby beaches as a precaution.

Eyewitness Nicola Logan told Reuters that she saw a “massive pool of blood” and that a ski‑paddler immediately pulled the woman back onto the sand. Police said that members of the public began first aid before paramedics arrived.

Australia has recorded almost 1,300 shark attacks since 1791, with around 260 fatalities, according to marine statistics. The latest incident follows last week’s fatal bite of a diver south‑east of Perth and a May fatality that killed a father of two.

Shark‑friendly beaches such as Coogee have measures in place, including patrols and public education campaigns, but the new attack underscores the need for continued vigilance. The incident has prompted renewed calls for stricter safety protocols and better public awareness of the risks posed by large shark species.