A man in his 50s was killed by a shark while surfing at a beach near Sydney, Australia, on Saturday. 

His death, the city’s third fatal shark attack since 1963, prompted closures of nearby beaches until further notice. 

Sydney shark attack

What we know:

Emergency crews were dispatched to Long Reef Beach shortly after 10 a.m. local time Saturday, responding to reports that a man had suffered critical injuries.

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The man, whose identity has yet to be confirmed, was retrieved from the surf and brought to shore but died at the scene. Two sections of a surfboard were recovered and taken for examination.

Witnesses say the victim was brought ashore by two fellow surfers and that distraught family members rushed to the scene.

Responders were using drones Saturday to search for the predator, and Surf Life Saving NSW deployed a drone to search for further shark activity.

What we don’t know:

Wildlife experts are still working to determine the species of shark involved. Authorities have only said it was a “large shark.”

What they’re saying:

“Our deepest condolences go to the family of the man involved in this terrible tragedy,” Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steve Pearce said in a statement. He urged people to stay out of the water at the beaches in the vicinity.

The backstory:

The last time a person was killed by a shark in Sydney was in February 2022. That was the city’s first fatal shark attack since 1963. Shark nets were installed at 51 beaches between Newcastle and Wollongong on Monday as part of a seasonal program.