- Police and rescue services are searching for a man in Western
Australia after ashark attack. - A group of teenage boys reportedly witnessed the man being attacked by two sharks.
Police and surf rescue helicopters are hunting for a man in Fremantle, Western Australia, after a reported double shark attack, the Australian Government has confirmed.
Witnesses at Port Beach called emergency services around 10am on November 6 to alert the authorities to a "serious shark bite incident."
The 57-year-old father was swimming alongside a dinghy when a tiger shark and a great white shark attacked him witnesses said, ABC reported. Police have not confirmed whether one or two sharks were responsible for the attack, said the news outlet.
Acting Inspector Emma Barnes, Western Australia Police Force, told CNN that a "male adult" had been attacked by a shark.
She thanked the witnesses for being "heroic and very brave" for alerting everyone to the attack and removing them from the surrounding areas.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is searching for the man and will do so until sunset. They will resume at sunrise.
Police also told ABC that they have been in touch with the man's family, who they say are "holding up well." It is believed he was a regular swimmer at the popular local spot, said ABC.
The beach and surrounding areas have been closed to the public.
Two bays south of Fremantle are closed until the end of January because spawning pink snapper attracts hungry sharks, reported The Guardian.
In June 2021, a 10-year-old boy was bitten three times in Western Australia. Insider's Joshua Zitser documented his story.
In 2020, Australia saw 22 unprovoked shark attacks - 38% of the world's total, according to Australia Wide First Aid.
The eight dead from Australian attacks account for more than 50% of worldwide shark-related fatalities.