Man killed by Great White shark while surfing in northern NSW
Two surfers are being hailed "heroes" after they attempted to fight off a huge shark that attacked a man off the coast of the NSW northern rivers region.
Queensland man Rob Pedretti, 60, was dragged ashore by the two men at Salt Beach near Kingscliff just after 10am yesterday, but died from his injuries.
The NSW Department of Primary Industries confirmed a great white shark was responsible for the attack.
Rob Pedretti died after being attacked by a large great white shark while surfing. Supplied
A large shark was filmed swimming nearby following the attack. 9News
Witnesses at the scene estimated the size of the animal at three metres long.
Mr Pedretti was bitten on the back of his thigh and was brought to the shore by other surfers who had fought off the shark, Surf Life Saving NSW said in a statement.
Read more: Great white circled and nudged men as they tried to save companion
Mr Pedretti, who relocated to Tugun from Geelong, received first aid on the shore but died on the beach.
"The actions of those people was nothing short of heroic in making every attempt to try to save this gentleman," NSW Police Duty Officer Matt Kehoe told 9News.
A male surfer has died after being bitten by a shark near Kingscliff in northern NSW. 9News
Police and Surf Lifesaving NSW examine a surfboard on the beach. 9News
One of the men is understood to have been a friend of the man, the other a stranger.
NSW Ambulance Inspector Terence Savage said it was a "dreadful" situation for everyone involved.
"When you get a call to attend a shark attack, you never really know the full extent of the damage until you get on scene," he said in a statement.
"They did everything they could to try and save his life, but despite their best efforts, were unable to do so."
Fellow surfers fought off the shark, but the man died of his injuries. 9News
Friends who travelled the world with Mr Pedretti held a beachside vigil at one of his favourite breaks on the Gold Coast yesterday afternoon.
"To think he got taken by a shark out of left field … I can't even get my head around it," Brian Currie told 9News.
"It's always someone you don't know (who gets attacked by a shark). When it does hit this close to home, it really affects you and the people who loved him and hung with him and his family," Tim Buckley added.
Surf lifesaving crews patrol the water following the attack. 9News
There is a shark listening station opposite the Kingscliff surf club but "no tagged sharks were detected on this station", the Department of Primary Industries said yesterday.
There have now been three fatal shark attacks in Australia in 2020.
Gary Johnson, 57, an experienced diver, was killed by a shark near Cull Island in Esperance on Western Australia's south coast in January.
A shark also killed 23-year-old Queensland ranger Zachary Robba in April off North West Island some 50km east of Rockhampton.
- Reported with AAP
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