Deadly attack on a shark in Queensland: third incident in a tourist site

An Australian died after being attacked by a shark at a popular tourist destination in Queensland.

The location – Cid Harbor on the Whitsunday Islands – was also home to two non-fatal shark attacks in September.

Police said the latest victim, 33, was swimming with friends when the attack occurred on Monday.

He was removed from the water with injuries to his leg and arm and died later in the hospital, authorities said.

"He had suffered very serious bites, significant blood loss as well as cardiac arrest," said Ben McCauley of Central Queensland Rescue.

In September, a 12 year old girl and a 46 year old woman were seriously injured during separate attacks in Cid Harbor within 24 hours. The girl later had an amputated leg.

The authorities reacted to both attacks by eliminating six sharks in the region and installing battery lines for a week.

Local legislator Jason Costigan said tourists should be better informed about swimming at dawn or dusk, when sharks could be more active.

Excluding Monday's incident, unprovoked shark attacks killed one person and injured 16 others in Australia this year, according to the Australian Shark Attack File.