Heartbreaking new details have emerged about a tragic shark attack that claimed the life of a young tourist and left her partner critically injured on a beach in Australia.
Livia Muhlheim, a 25-year-old Swiss tourist, has been identified as the victim of a brutal bull shark attack that unfolded at dawn on Thursday at Kylies Beach in Crowdy Bay, New South Wales.
Her partner, 26-year-old Lukas Schindler, remains in critical condition after a heroic attempt to save her life.
Livia Muhlheim, 25, was mauled to death by a bull shark off the coast of Australia. Credit: Linkedln
She was filming dolphins when the shark struck
Livia, a former synchronised swimmer and academic, had been filming a pod of dolphins with a GoPro when a large, three-metre bull shark attacked. The predator bit her multiple times, severing her left arm, per the Express.
Lukas, a diving instructor and former Swiss Armed Forces lieutenant, fought off the shark as it mauled her.
Despite being bitten twice on the leg, he managed to drive the animal away and then carried Livia more than 50 metres back to shore. Tragically, she died on the sand before emergency services could reach the scene.
Witnesses described chaotic scenes as lifeguards and paramedics scrambled to save the couple.
A passer-by reportedly used a makeshift tourniquet to stop Lukas’s leg from bleeding, an action police say may have saved his life. Lukas was then later airlifted to the hospital and remains in critical condition.
NSW Ambulance superintendent Josh Smyth praised the boyfriend's actions as “heroic”.
The attack happened at Kylies Beach in Crowdy Bay National Park. Credit: Ken Kiefer 2 / Getty
Couple’s promising future cut short
Both Livia and Lukas had distinguished backgrounds in academics, athletics, and security work.
They met while studying at the University of St Gallen, where Livia earned her Master’s degree in Accounting and Finance before being hired by a financial consulting firm in 2024.
Lukas had recently completed the Sydney Marathon in under three hours, earned an Open Water Scuba Instructor certificate, and graduated with a Master of Arts from the University of Technology Sydney.
Before his studies, he served as a gymnastics coach and later as a first lieutenant in the Swiss Armed Forces. He also worked alongside Livia as a Security Operator at the World Economic Forum.
Authorities now say they are reviewing “harrowing footage” captured by the couple shortly before the attack. Credit: Mackenzie Sweetnam / Getty
Authorities are now reviewing footage captured by the couple’s GoPro in the moments leading up to the attack.
The beach has since been closed, and drones and drumlines have been deployed to track down the shark.
Livia’s death is the latest in a string of deadly shark attacks across Australia. Less than three months ago, 57-year-old surfer Mercury Psillakis was killed by a 3.5-metre great white shark at Long Reef in Sydney. Witnesses say he was pulled from the water missing both legs, per The Sun.