‘Disturbing’: Attack filmed

Swimmer killed by shark in Sydney

We heard a yell and then turned around, it looked like a car just landed in the water, big splash.

Kris Linto, witness

Australians have pointed out a “disturbing” detail following a deadly shark attack in Sydney, with footage emerging of people watching on as the event unfolded.

Emergency services were called to Buchan Point in Sydney on Wednesday afternoon following reports a shark had attacked a swimmer in the water.

The person died after suffering “catastrophic injuries”, with human remains found by rescuers later in the evening.

Terrifying footage of the attack began circling online shortly after the incident, but it wasn’t just the horrifying attack that shocked viewers, it was the reaction of the witnesses.

“Someone just got eaten by a shark,” the man recording the video can be heard yelling, adding it was a “big great white”.

Another man can be seen in the video fishing off the rock and watching on as the attack played out.

Social media users were quick to question the strange reactions from witnesses.

“Did anyone else notice the guy fishing that didn’t even take his line in or anything? Just kept fishing,” another said.

One person branded the whole situation “disturbing”.

Another person expressed shock that the witnesses were able to “just sit there and describe the attack” while the situation played out in front of them.

Authorities closed off Little Bay Beach after the attack.

A NSW Ambulance spokeswoman said: “Unfortunately this person had suffered catastrophic injuries and there wasn’t a lot paramedics could do when we arrived.”

A witness, Kris Linto, said the swimmer was in the water when the shark “came and attacked him vertically.”

“We heard a yell and then turned around, it looked like a car just landed in the water, big splash,” he told Nine News TV.

It is the first fatality from a shark attack in Sydney since 1963.

Police will liaise with the Department of Primary Industry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of the swimmer. A report will be prepared for the Coroner.

According to researchers with the International Shark Attack File, Australia last year led the world with three unprovoked shark-related deaths, followed by New Caledonia with two.

The United States, Brazil, New Zealand and South Africa each had a single unprovoked fatal shark attack. There were a total of 11.