Young snorkeler bitten off Western Australia coast

On the afternoon of April 29, 2023, an 11-year-old boy from Tasmania was snorkeling in shallow waters off Kurrajong Campground in Cape Range National Park near Exmouth, Western Australia, when he was bitten by a shark. The incident occurred at approximately 3:00 pm local time in the Indian Ocean. Witnesses reported observing the boy's mother signal for help as the attack unfolded. Bystanders responded swiftly, bringing the injured snorkeler to shore and providing immediate first aid by applying pressure to the wounds using a rash shirt. The bite extended from above the knee toward the ankle, creating multiple lacerations that required urgent medical intervention. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) was notified at 3:00 pm. Emergency services transported the boy first to Exmouth Hospital, then arranged an evacuation flight via the Royal Flying Doctor Service to Perth. He was transferred to Perth Children's Hospital, where medical staff assessed his injuries as serious but not life-threatening. Surgery was anticipated as part of his treatment plan, though the boy remained in stable condition upon arrival. The shark species involved was not identified at the time of the incident. In response to the encounter, Parks and Wildlife Service officers closed beaches between Pilgramunna and Bloodwood Creek on April 29, 2023. The closure remained in effect through April 30, and beaches were reopened on May 1 with recommendations for enhanced caution among water users. This incident underscores the importance of immediate first aid response in shark encounters and the effectiveness of coordinated emergency protocols in remote coastal areas.