UPDATE: Following the tragic news that a 16-year-old girl had died following a shark attack in Australia, witnesses are now praising a "hero" who attempted to save her.

Per the Daily Mail, witnesses have hailed the actions of a man who bravely jumped into the Swan River in an attempt to save the teen in distress.

Police were informed that the man successfully pulled the teenager out of the water after she was mauled by what is now believed to be a bull shark.

Sadly, paramedics were unable to save her.

Locals say screams were heard before the "hero" jumped into the river. Witnesses add that the teenager's family and friends were in shock as they walked along the side of the river after the man pulled the girl out.

The Daily Mail adds that the teenager succumbed to what has been described as "severe leg injuries".

ORIGINAL: A teenager has tragically died after being attacked by a shark while swimming in an Australian river.

The 16-year-old - who has not yet officially been named - was pronounced dead on Saturday (February 4) after she was pulled from the Swan River, which is located in the Perth suburb of Fremantle, Western Australia.

As reported by BBC News, Fremantle District Acting Inspector Paul Robinson from the Western Australia Police has revealed that the teen had been riding jet skis with a group of friends prior to the "very, very traumatic" attack occurring.

"It's an extremely traumatic event for everyone involved and everyone who knew the young girl, so I won't be going into the extent of the injuries," Robinson said.

Credit: 10FirstNews

Robinson added that it is possible the girl had jumped into the water in an attempt to swim with a pod of dolphins that were nearby.

Western Australia Police were then alerted to the incident at around 3:30PM, leading to emergency services rushing to the scene.

The girl's family has been left "absolutely devastated by the news", as people in the area have been warned to take "additional caution" and respect the subsequent beach closures.

Beach closers have been set up along the Swan River. Credit: Michael Willis / Alamy

The Daily Mail has reported that the girl's death is the first fatal shark attack in the Swan River in more than a century - with the last reported death being that of a 13-year-old boy back in January 1923.

Robinson did address about the rarity of shark attacks during his statements to the press, saying: "It is unusual for a shark to be that far down the river [...] at this point in time an alert has been put out, a shark warning just to let people know this incident has taken place."

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development confirmed on Saturday that it is investigating a "possible shark bite" incident, per the Daily Mail, with a spokesperson adding: "DPIRD is working with local authorities and further information will be provided as it becomes available."

In 2021, two fatal shark attacks were reported in Australia - this was down from seven in 2020.

Our thoughts go out to the teen's family, loved ones, and anybody else affected by this tragic incident.

Featured image credit: ABC

A teenager tragically lost his life after being attacked by a shark as his helpless dad watched the horrific ordeal occur.

Khai Cowley, a 15-year-old talented young surfer lost his life in the horrifying shark attack while enjoying the waves at Ethel Beach, located approximately 160 kilometers west of Adelaide on the Yorke Peninsula.

South Australia Police were alerted to the attack around 1:30PM local time, responding swiftly to the distressing situation.

Despite the immediate response, medics on the scene confirmed the tragic outcome, stating that the young surfer had succumbed to the injuries inflicted by the shark.

Eyewitnesses at Ethel Beach shared harrowing details of the incident with the Adelaide Advertiser. According to a bystander, the teen and his father were enjoying a surfing session when the predator struck, snatching the boy's leg.

"A local guy rushed out, grabbed his board, and paddled towards them," the witness recounted. "The shark circled as the man pulled the boy out of the water. There was a significant amount of blood. He managed to bring him to shore, but sadly, it seemed too late."

Speaking to 9News, surfer Luke Winter said: "I don't know what to make of it. I was pretty rattled last night; it's too close to home, really."

The recently awarded "outstanding grom" by the Southern Adelaide Surf Club, Khai, belonged to a surfing legacy, being the third generation of his family to be a member.

Khai's death marks the third surfer lost to a shark attack in under a year in Southern Australia. Credit: Mark Chivers/Getty

The Seaview Road Board Riders, profoundly affected by his untimely death, expressed their disbelief in a statement, remembering Khai as a standout figure who brought joy to younger surfers.

"Khai was a standout. He helped the little groms, made their trainings fun, and they all looked up to him," the statement read. "You will live on in our hearts and memories, once a Roader, always a Roader. We will all miss you so much and will keep shredding for you."

Ethel Beach, known for its challenging waves, especially Ethel's Ledge, is considered one of the best spots in the state on a good surf day.

"It wasn't very good yesterday," shared local Sean Hanna. "It was basically white water surf, but his love was such that he wanted to be part of that."

A fundraiser has been set up in the wake of Khai's death. Credit: GoFundMe

Understanding this profound love, the surfing community has rallied around Khai's family, offering support. A fundraiser launched after the tragedy quickly surpassed its target, reflecting the widespread compassion and grief.

Khai's passing marks the third surfer lost to a shark attack off South Australia in less than a year.

Featured image credit: Ken Kiefer 2/Getty

A terrifying encounter at Cabarita Beach in northern New South Wales, Australia, saw a 16-year-old surfer viciously mauled by a shark, only to be pursued by the predator as rescuers rushed him to safety, the New York Post reports.

Credit: Alexis Rosenfeld/Getty Images.

Emergency services were called to the popular beach just before 4PM on Sunday following reports of a serious shark attack.

The nearly seven-foot predator, believed to be a bull shark, launched a brutal assault on the teen, causing severe injuries to his leg, hand, and arm. Reports say one of his arms was left hanging on by a shred of sinew, per News.com.au.

Dramatic footage from the scene captured the horrifying aftermath. Fellow beachgoers are seen hauling the boy out of the water while the shark’s massive dorsal fin cuts through the surf just behind them. Shouts and screams can be heard as chaos unfolds on the shoreline.

In the video, one frightened onlooker can be heard exclaiming: "Oh my God, that's the shark."

Another voice adds: "Oh f**! That's really scary!"*

Despite the danger, rescuers continued to carry the boy out of the water, using a surfboard as an improvised stretcher.

Fortunately, an off-duty paramedic was nearby and quickly stepped in, applying a tourniquet to stem the heavy bleeding.

One of the brave beachgoers who ran to help after hearing the teen’s screams was 39-year-old Brazilian surfer Thiago Collel.

Recalling the ordeal, he told Daily Mail: "When I got to the shore, he had been dragged in by a group of people including an off-duty paramedic who happened to be walking on the beach at the time.

"His bicep was destroyed - you could see all the muscle, flesh and bone.

"He lost a scary amount of blood. I was covered in it."

Collel said the group worked together to keep the boy calm while waiting for emergency services. "We were just trying to keep him calm, holding his head and making sure he was okay.

"I just kept talking to him and he told me how he fought off the shark by kicking and punching it away."

Credit: Ullstein bild / Getty

The teen was eventually airlifted by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter to Gold Coast University Hospital, where he remains in serious but stable condition, per Stab Mag.

A second helicopter was dispatched in an effort to locate the shark but was unsuccessful.

While the exact species of shark hasn’t been confirmed, many locals believe it was a bull shark. Some have raised concerns it could have been a two-metre-long great white.

Featured image credit: Ullstein bild / Getty Images.

A mom has opened up about the gut-wrenching moment she saw her daughter mauled by a shark during a vacation.Lulu Gribbin, from Mountain Brook, Alabama, was left severely injured after being attacked by a shark on Rosemary Beach in Florida’s Walton County, as reported by The Guardian.A 17-year-old named McCray Faustt was also bitten on the foot and a Virginia woman named Elisabeth Foley, 45, lost part of her left hand, according to WDHN.The 15-year-old's mother, Ann Blair Gribbin, provided details about the savage incident, the aftermath, and her daughter's medical condition in a heartwrenching post on the website CaringBridge.Lulu was severely injured after being attacked by a shark. Credit: ImageBROKER/Rolf von Riedmatten / GettyAnn said that she and Lulu were on their first mother-daughter vacation along with the teen’s twin sister, Ellie, as well as friends.She revealed that her daughter was with friends on a sand bar in the sea, looking for sand dollars, when the vicious predator bit her hand and leg on Friday afternoon (June 7).Two onlookers, a man and a boy, noticed the teenager was badly injured so they pulled her out of the water and carried her to the shore.The heartbroken mom was at another part of the beach when she heard there was a shark and saw a group of people standing over someone on the shore. She rushed over and found out that her daughter was a victim of the attack.“I saw her wounds on her leg and started to scream,” the mom penned. “She was lifeless her eyes closed mouth white and pale."The wound on her leg or all that was left of her leg was something out of a movie. I finally made it back to her and held her hand and she saw me, and I told her I was there," she added.Lulu was airlifted to a hospital in Pensacola, Florida, and doctors were forced to amputate her right leg halfway up from her knee to her hip. She had also lost around two-thirds of the blood in her body.Ann disclosed that medics expected her child to be on the ventilator for about a week but Lulu began breathing on her own on Saturday and was removed from the machine.“This was a first big step,” the mom wrote. “Once she was settled her first words to us were, ‘I made it.’ And boy she did.”South Walton Fire District Chief Ryan Crawford revealed that the other victim, Foley, was also airlifted to a hospital after suffering "significant trauma to the midsection, the pelvic area, as well as amputation of her left lower arm," per The Mirror.Officials believe the same shark attacked the two teenagers and the 45-year-old woman.Three people were attacked by a shark on Rosemary Beach in Florida. Credit: Brittany Baldwin-Unger / 500px / GettyThe mom has expressed gratitude to first responders and hospital staff for providing lifesaving care to her beloved teen.“At this point, we will have multiple surgeries in the days to come and our lives will be forever changed. Lulu is strong, beautiful, brave and so many more things I can’t count. God has a plan for her, and we will be there to support her every way we can,” she wrote.Lulu is expected to undergo several surgeries in the following weeks as she continues to recover physically from the life-changing attack.We wish all the victims a speedy recovery.Featured image credit: ImageBROKER/Rolf von Riedmatten / Getty

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.

Featured image credit: Mackenzie Sweetnam / Getty