Surfer killed by 10-foot great white shark in Australia

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In this image made from aerial video, a jet ski passes over a shark swimming along the coast of Kingscliff, New South Whales, Australia,
AP

A 60-year-old surfer was killed in Australia by a 10-foot great white shark, officials said Sunday.

Rob Pedretti was mauled by the shark around 10:20 a.m. off the coast of northern New South Wales, 9News reported.

Other surfers tried to fight off the great white and dragged the man to the shore, according to Surf Life Saving NSW, a rescue organization.

“The actions of those people was nothing short of heroic in making every attempt to try to save this gentleman,” New South Wales Police Duty Officer Matt Kehoe told the outlet.

First aid was performed on the man but he couldn’t be saved, New South Wales Ambulance Inspector Terence Savage said.

Pedretti, who suffered injuries to the back of his thigh, died on the beach, officials said.

“When you get a call to attend a shark attack, you never really know the full extent of the damage until you get on scene,” Savage said. “They did everything they could to try and save his life, but despite their best efforts, were unable to do so.”

The state’s Department of Primary Industries said photographs confirmed that a great white shark was responsible for the attack.

The death marked the third fatal shark attack in Australia this year.

A diver was killed in January near Esperance off the Western Australia state coast, and then a shark fatally mauled a 23-year-old wildlife worker in April on the Great Barrier Reef.

With Post wires