A man has died after being attacked by a shark off the coast of Australia’s northeastern state of Queensland, police have confirmed.
Emergency services were called to a boat ramp on the Cassowary Coast, between the towns of Cairns and Townsville, shortly before midday local time on Sunday following reports of an attack on a 39-year-old man while swimming on a nearby shoal.
Queensland Police said in a statement that the man was recovered from the water but died from his injuries.
During this incident, the man was bitten on the lower legs and could not be resuscitated.
Queensland Police have not released details of the injuries suffered by the latest victim, nor the identity of the man.
He said he would now prepare a report for the coroner into the “sudden and not suspicious” death.
“As the matter is before the coroner, it would be inappropriate to comment further,” the force added.
Shark attacks in Australia are more common than in many other parts of the world, although they are often not fatal.
There were four shark encounters in Australia in January, according to the Australian Shark Incident Database, only one of which proved fatal.
Popular swimming and surfing spots tend to have protection measures against attacks.