Terrifying pictures show a huge white shark lurking in the ocean just metres from the shore less than an hour after a young woman was bitten on the torso in Western Australia.
The 20-year-old woman was using an inflatable pool ring less than 200m from shore at the popular — but notorious — Kelp Beds in Wylie Bay near Esperance just before midday on Sunday when she was attacked.
She managed to swim towards the shore where friends met her and bandaged her wound, before taking her to the local health campus.
The Royal Flying Doctor Service later transported the woman to Perth for further treatment and images of her arrival at the airport appeared to show her awake.
She remains in a serious but stable condition at Royal Perth Hospital.
About half an hour after the attack, a three metre white shark was spotted lurking close to shore in crystal clear water near Wylie Bay.
Footage from 9 News shows the shark making its way parallel to the shoreline.
But authorities said there had been no further shark sightings in the Kelp Beds area following the attack.
The woman’s pool ring was recovered late on Sunday and was transferred to Perth for scientific analysis.
“Investigations are continuing by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development Shark Response Unit to determine details of the incident,” a statement read.
“Take additional caution in the Kelp Beds/Wylie Bay area.”
The beach remained closed on Monday.
Esperance is famous for its stunning, crystal clear water and popular surf breaks, but is also known for its massive sharks and fatal attacks.
Andrew Sharpe, 52, was taken by a suspected five-metre white shark while surfing at Kelp Beds in October 2020. His body was never found.
Laeticia Brouwer, 17, was fatally bitten on the leg while surfing with her dad in April 2017.
Surfer Sean Pollard was also mauled at Wylie Bay in 2014, losing his right hand and left arm, but he survived the attack from two sharks.
