Australia surfer missing in suspected shark attack

A surfer vanished in a suspected shark attack on Friday on the Australian southwest coast, police said. A surfboard was found at Wylie Bay near the town of Esperance and a search was underway for the man who had been riding it, according to a police statement.

Ambulance officers reported the suspected shark attack at Kelp Beds Beach late Friday morning. Western Australia state Premier Mark McGowan told reporters the surfer has not been recovered yet. A 17-year-old girl was killed by a shark at the same spot in 2017.

In 2014, a 23-year-old man was also attacked by a shark off the beach, losing his arm and hand. A 57-year-old diver was killed by a great white shark off Esperance in January. His body was never found. Pro surfer Matt Wilkinson had a close encounter with a great white shark off Ballina on the Australian east coast on Wednesday.

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