Most of the city’s beaches have been closed and a campaign has been launched to catch tiger sharks and bulldog sharks
A 59-year-old Australian tourist died in New Caledonia Sunday following being attacked by a shark 150 meters from a beach in Noumea, the municipality announced in a statement.
The victim was swimming near the promenade of this very popular beach in the capital when the shark bit him several times. Prosecutor Yves Dupa told AFP that “two people who were on a boat nearby” tried to rescue the man in his fifties.
It was found to the rescuers that the man had received a large bite in the leg, as well as in the level of his arms. Despite attempts to resuscitate him when he was brought back to shore, he succumbed to his injuries.
The attack occurred while a large number of people were in the water, causing panic on the Chateau Royal beach in the south of the city, while the area was evacuated immediately.
And the mayor of Noumea, Sonia Lagarde, ordered the closure of most of the city’s beaches and launched a campaign to catch tiger sharks and bulldog sharks, in cooperation with the province of South New Caledonia.
An investigation was opened to find out the causes of death, according to the Public Prosecution.