A 17-year-old girl has died after being bitten by a shark while swimming off the beach in north Brisbane. Charlize Zmuda was a member of the Bribie Island Surf Life Saving Club since she was eight years old. The attack occurred on Monday afternoon at Woorim Beach, where authorities had deployed shark control measures.
Charlize’s father, Steve Zmuda, urged beachgoers not to be deterred from visiting the beach, saying his daughter was a dedicated lifesaver who wanted only the best for their community. The incident marks Australia’s third fatal shark attack in five weeks, following incidents on Granites Beach in South Australia and near Keppel Bay Islands in Queensland.
Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding Charlize’s death, which occurred about 15 minutes after the attack. Shark sightings in the area are frequent, according to local resident John Wadey. The incident has extended condolences from Moreton Bay mayor Peter Flannery and Queensland state MP Ariana Doolan, who described it as “tragic” and urged respect for the grieving family.
Australia has reported over 1,200 cases of shark attacks since 1791, with more than 250 fatal incidents.
Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/shark-attack-death-queensland-australia-b2691635.html