Man in Critical Condition After Shark Attack in Australia

A man is currently in critical condition after a shark attack that took place on Saturday at approximately 10:00 AM local time off Rottnest Island, near Perth, Australia. The incident was reported by St John Ambulance Western Australia, which dispatched a rescue helicopter to the scene.

This attack is part of a concerning trend, with nearly 1,300 shark incidents recorded around Australia, resulting in 260 fatalities according to a database of predator encounters with humans. The recent fatality of a 12-year-old boy in a shark attack in Sydney Harbour in January has raised alarms.

In the span of two days, four shark attacks prompted officials to close several city beaches. Australian scientists attribute the increase in shark attacks to rising ocean temperatures and changing migratory patterns of sharks, exacerbated by increasing crowds in the water.