17-year-old Girl Dies After Being Mauled By Shark In Australia

A 17-year-old girl was killed by a shark in Western Australia. She was surfing with her father when she was attacked at Esperance, West Australia. The girl has been identified as Laeticia Brouwer.

Seven News Perth reported that the Brouwer’s mother and siblings witnessed the attack from the shore. Brouwer was taken to the hospital in a critical condition. Her leg was badly mauled by the shark suffering from heavy blood loss. Police later confirmed she died from her injuries. She has become the third victim of a fatal shark attack in Western Australia according to PerthNow.

Due to the incident, Wylie Beach is closed and the Department of Fisheries will be conducting beach and water patrols.

Shark Attacks in Western Australia

The family was reportedly on an Easter Holiday. The attack happened around 4 p.m. Brouwer and her father were surfing at the popular Kelp Beds in Wylie Bay when her left leg was mauled by a shark.

Brouwer was pulled to shore by her father and another surfer. A nurse helped perform first aid and used a tourniquet to stop the bleeding. Brouwer was in critical condition when the paramedics arrived, she was unable to regain consciousness when the paramedics tried to stabilize her.

It is still unknown what species of shark was involved in the attack. But great white sharks are common off the West Australian coast, especially around Esperance. According to WA Department of Fisheries Regional Manager Russel Adams, ever since the year 2000, most fatal shark attacks were caused by great white sharks.

Her surfboard was recovered to be analyzed to determine the kind of shark that attacked her.

Other shark attacks reported on the island included Sean Pollard last 2014; mauled by two great white sharks he lost both hands. The teenage girl is the third fatal shark victim this year; others include surfer Ben Gerring and diver Doreen Collyer last June.