Surfer Killed by Shark

A Western Australian surfer has died this morning after a shark attack.

Nicholas Edwards, 31, a father-of-two was pulled ashore by witnesses at around 8.15am (WST) and was rushed from Cowaramup Bay to Margaret River hospital for treatment before succumbing to his injuries.

He was believed to be surfing South Point with a small group of others, a lefthander protected from the area’s prevailing south-westerly onshore wind.

The whole south-west coast of Australia is a freeway for sharks as they hunt giant schools of migrating salmon. Local surfer Brad Smith, 29, was killed by a shark while surfing at Lefthanders beach in July, 2004, just two kilometres from the latest attack.

Taj Burrow, whose hometown is located 40 minutes away in Yallingup, was, understandably, shocked by the news: “It just feels so weird round here right now. The whole town is freaking out, as you can imagine. I feel safe in the water because I’m at home but I often hear people who fly small planes that there’s plenty of movement out there.”