Arabic version: إغلاق شاطئ سورينتو بعد هجوم يُشتبه بأنه لسمكة قرش

According to ABC News, emergency services responded to a suspected shark attack at Sorrento Beach in Perth’s north after reports were received at 10:15am local time. The beach was closed to swimmers, and people were advised to take caution.

St John WA sent three crews to the beach, including one on priority. WA Police patrolled the shoreline, where officers were seen beside a red surfboard, while a police helicopter hovered overhead. Water police remained in the area.

Witness Jacqui Rapaic said she was walking on the beach with a friend when she saw blood in the water. She told the ABC that she believed two men had been swimming, but only one had returned to shore. “My friend said, ‘Jack, I think there’s been a shark attack’ and I looked out to the ocean and I could see a pool of blood,” Ms Rapaic told the ABC.

Ms Rapaic said the incident happened quickly and that she and her friend felt traumatised. Another witness, Russell James, said the shark alarm sounded before he saw a helicopter circling and a police boat arrive. He also saw police, ambulances and what appeared to be surfboards or paddle boards near the water’s edge by the groyne.

The suspected attack followed a public report of a 2.5-metre shark off the beach. It came a week after Surf Life Saving WA began weekend helicopter shark patrols ahead of the summer season. Sorrento is a popular swimming location about 20 kilometres north of Perth’s CBD, south of Hillarys marina.