16-year-old girl killed in shark attack in Australia, parents ‘devastated’ – National | 24CA News
A 16-year-old woman from Western Australia has died after she was attacked by a shark whereas swimming in a river exterior Perth.
Stella Berry was declared useless on Saturday after being pulled from the Swan River.
She had been driving jet skis along with her buddies when she jumped into the water to swim with a passing pod of dolphins, in line with Inspector Paul Robinson from Western Australia Police.
“This is an extremely traumatic incident for anyone to witness,” Robinson mentioned in a press briefing, noting that police tried to avoid wasting Berry’s life however she died on the scene.
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Local authorities are nonetheless investigating what kind of shark was concerned within the assault, although the Western Australia Fisheries Minister mentioned it was “likely” a bull shark.
Matt and Sophie Berry wrote that they’re “devastated and deeply shocked” in an announcement following their daughter’s loss of life. They say she was a “vibrant and happy girl” who beloved artwork and the water.
“She was a caring person and was a dear friend to many … a beautiful and loving big sister and the best daughter we could have hoped for,” the mother and father wrote.
Local journalist Herlyn Kaur for the Australia Broadcasting Corporation reported that dozens of Berry’s buddies and family members held a memorial for her on the banks of the Swan River on Sunday.
The BBC cited fisheries specialists who mentioned that Berry’s loss of life is the primary deadly shark assault within the Swan River in 100 years, and that it’s uncommon to search out sharks in that a part of the river.
In 2021, a bull shark attacked a person in his 50s within the Swan River. He was pulled from the water by witnesses and survived, CNN reported.
Shark assaults are exceedingly uncommon and most frequently occur in sizzling spot places like Florida, Australia and South Africa.
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In 2022, there have been 9 shark-related deaths worldwide, in line with the International Shark Attack File (ISAF), a scientific database of shark assaults based mostly out of the University of Florida.
“The number of unprovoked shark attacks worldwide decreased last year, tying with 2020 for the fewest number of reported incidents in the last 10 years,” the group wrote in a news launch.
Australia noticed 9 unprovoked shark bites final yr, which was decrease than common for the area. Four bites occurred in New South Wales, 4 bites occurred in Western Australia and a single incident occurred in Victoria, the ISAF writes.
Bull sharks are one of many “Big Three” species in shark assaults, alongside white and tiger sharks. They are giant sharks which can be able to inflicting critical accidents and are generally present in areas additionally frequented by people.
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