Tragic Shark Attack Claims Life of Teen in Queensland

Emergency services responded to a shark attack in Queensland, Australia, resulting in the death of a teenage girl. The incident, which took place close to shore at Woorim Beach, has raised concerns about shark activity in the area despite existing safety measures.

A teenage girl has tragically lost her life following a shark attack in Queensland, Australia. Paramedics were dispatched to the scene after reports emerged of a "serious shark bite incident" at Woorim Beach, located just north of Brisbane, around 16:45 local time (06:45 GMT) on Monday, as confirmed by the Queensland Ambulance Service on X. According to police, the victim, who was 17 years old, sustained critical injuries and was pronounced dead shortly after 17:00.

The waters surrounding the beach are known to harbor numerous sharks; however, the incident occurred near the shoreline of this popular surfing destination, which is equipped with shark protection measures. Authorities reported that the girl was swimming in the waters off Bribie Island—adjacent to the mainland where Woorim Beach sits—when a shark, species still unidentified, attacked her.

The Queensland Ambulance Service indicated that the young victim suffered life-threatening injuries to her upper body after being bitten approximately 100 meters from the shore. Eyewitness Christopher Potter, who arrived at the beach shortly after the incident, shared with ABC News, "There are a lot of swimming groups that swim along here, morning and afternoon. It's known there are a lot of sharks around Bribie, but this close to shore, it's still a shock."

Local police revealed that the beach area features drumlines—barrels anchored to the seabed with baited hooks to catch nearby sharks. While target species caught are euthanized, others are relocated and released into the sea. Authorities are preparing a report for the coroner concerning the attack.

This marks the second shark-related fatality in Australian waters for the year, following the death of surfer Lance Appleby off the coast of South Australia on January 2. The last fatal shark attack in the Greater Brisbane area occurred in 2006, when 21-year-old Sarah Whiley was killed while swimming with friends. Despite the incident, Queensland's state government maintains that shark attacks are infrequent and that most shark species are not a threat to humans.