On November 27, a shark killed a woman in Australia and severely injured her boyfriend, who was trying to help her.
Livia Muhlheim, 25, and Lukas Schindler, 26, both of Switzerland, were filming a pod of dolphins with a GoPro at Kylies Beach in New South Wales when a three-meter bull shark attacked them.
The incident happened early in the morning, at around 6:30 am. The bull shark struck Muhlheim first, biting her several times, severing her left arm, and injuring her leg. Schindler, a qualified diving instructor, tried to fight off the shark, but it bit him twice on his right leg, causing severe injuries.
Schindler managed to drag Muhlheim 50m to the shore and called emergency services. A bystander provided initial first aid, including making a tourniquet from her swimsuit. Emergency services arrived promptly, but despite their efforts, the woman died of her injuries at the scene. Schindler was airlifted to a hospital in serious but stable condition and remains under treatment.
Livia Muhlheim. Photo: au.new.yahoo.com
Livia Muhlheim was a financial professional, a runner, and a former competitive synchronized swimmer. She and Schindler had been traveling extensively in Australia, and Schindler had recently taken part in the Sydney Marathon.
Drones patrolled the waters, and authorities used SMART drumlines — a kind of bait rig to catch sharks — but no further sightings have been reported. Police are reviewing the GoPro footage taken before the attack for clues. According to media outlets, it was the fifth fatal shark bite in Australia this year.
Lukas Schindler is treated after the shark attack. Photo: 7news.com.au
Bull shark
The bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas) is considered one of the three shark species most dangerous to humans (along with great whites and tiger sharks). It is highly territorial and frequently inhabits the same murky, shallow coastal areas where humans swim.
Bull sharks use the classic “bump-and bite” investigative technique and rely heavily on smell rather than eyesight. It reacts aggressively when it perceives any intrusion, competition, or anything that splashes or bleeds.
Bull shark. Photo: Sharkangels.org
2024: 47 unprovoked shark attacks worldwide
According to the International Shark Attack File (ISAF) from the Florida Museum of Natural History, there were 47 confirmed unprovoked shark attacks globally in 2024. An unprovoked attack occurs when the victim has not interacted with the shark beforehand. Simply swimming, surfing, or wading in the water doesn’t count as provocation. That same year, there were 24 provoked shark attacks worldwide. Four people died from shark attacks in 2024, all of them unprovoked.
