As stated by Paul Robinson, Fremantle district police officer, the girl was attacked by an unknown species of shark that pulled her down from the water surface after she jumped into the river to swim nearby the dolphins.
“They were on jet skis. Possible a pod of dolphins were being seen nearby, and the young female jumped in to swim nearby the dolphins,” said the official.
After a series of failed efforts to revive her, the teenager was pronounced dead on the spot.
Describing the incident as “very, very traumatic,” Paul Robinson stated, “It’s very early on, what we’re being advised is that she was with friends on the river,” at a press conference.
The officer further stated that the family of the girl were devastated by the news.
Following the incident, the state government alarmed the citizens to be extra cautious while they are in the Swan River in North Fremantle.
They further asked the people to abide by any beach closures.
It is said to be the first deadly shark attack in the area in a century. According to fisheries experts, it was unusual for sharks to be located in that part of the river.
As per a report put out by the Taronga Conservation Society, the last fatal attack in an Australian river occurred in 1960. It was when a bull shark of nearly 11 feet mauled a snorkeler at Sydney’s Roseville Bridge.
