A man has died after being attacked by a shark while spearfishing off Queensland’s Fraser Island.
The 36-year-old was bitten on a leg in waters near the popular tourist destination Fraser Island, about 400km north of Brisbane.
A nurse and a doctor treated the man on shore before paramedics arrived, but he died from his injuries at the scene, police said.
Police did not identify the species of shark. It is the fourth known fatal shark attack in the country this year.
“This (is) a tremendously sad day for our community,” Fraser Coast mayor George Seymour said on Facebook.
“Our deepest condolences go to this young man’s family and friends.”
Shark expert Daryl McPhee told the Courier Mail that Fraser Island was a “key spawning location for migratory fish” which attract sharks.
“It’s no surprise that there’s an unprovoked shark bite there; it’s perhaps more surprising that people are actually diving there,” said Mr McPhee, an associate professor of environmental science at Bond University.
Last month, a 60-year-old surfer died after being mauled by a three-metre shark south of Brisbane.
Australia has one of the world’s highest incidences of shark attacks, but fatalities remain rare.
