Shark Attack: Man Killed on Cable Beach in Western Australia

“Police were advised to carry out a deadly shark attack on Cable Beach around 8:45 a.m. this morning, November 22, 2020,” Western Australia Police said in a statement to CNN.

“The man was pulled out of the water and was treated by local police before a St. John’s ambulance arrived. Tragically, a 50-year-old local resident died of his injuries.”

Surf Life Saving Western Australia Australia and Cable Beach, located on the northwest coast of Australia Australia, have been closed by Broom’s popular holiday destination as fisheries officials from the Department of Primary Industry and Regional Development patrol, according to police.

Surf Life Saving Western Australia Australia said in an update online update on Sunday evening that patrols would stay up all night and resume early Monday morning.

People have been advised to be cautious around the Cable Beach area and report any shark spot to the police.

The incident happened about 1 mile north of the Cable Beach Surf Club. Beaches from Dampier Creek to Coconut Wells are closed.

Just six weeks after the last deadly shark attack, Western Australia has the highest number of shark deaths in the country since 1934. The remains of the victim were not found in the October attack, although they had a surfboard.

This year the attacks have taken place in different states, including Queensland and New South Wales. One of them is also a diver who went missing in January after a suspected Great White attack. His body was never found.

To put this year’s growth in perspective, there are no shark attack deaths in Australia in 2019.

According to a spokesperson for the Taranga Conservation Society Australia, seven shark attacks have died in the country in the past year. The highest annual figure on record is 1929, with nine deaths.

CNN’s Jesse Young contributed to this report.