Swimmer killed in shark attack in front of horrified beachgoers in Australia: “I could see a pool of blood”

September 18, 2026 / 6:22 AM EDT / CBS/AP

A man was killed by a shark as he swam off a Western Australian city beach Friday while beachgoers watched in horror.

Boats and helicopters searched the ocean off Sorrento Beach in Perth's northern suburbs after the late-morning attack, a police statement said. Police would not say whether potential remains had been found.

But police were confident the "swimmer died as a result of the attack," the statement said.

A witness to the attack, identified only as Darrel, told Nine Network television that the victim had been swimming with a now traumatized friend.

"I was just shocked. I mean, I feel for his mate. He's apologized and said 'I didn't save my mate,'" Darrel told Nine.

"I said 'You couldn't have done anything,'" Darrel added.

Witness Ingrid Mitchell, who swims at the beach daily, said to Nine: "How do you just watch someone be mauled to pieces in front of you, basically? It's pretty hard."

Witnesses reported seeing blood in the water.

"My friend said, 'Jac, I think there's been a shark attack,' and I looked out to the ocean and I could see a pool of blood," beach walker Jacqui…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/