An 11-year-old boy suffered serious injuries when he was attacked by a shark while snorkelling just metres from the shore in Western Australia.
The youngster was swimming off Kurrajong Campground at Cape Range National Park in the Shire of Exmouth - about 1,300 kilometres north of Perth - at 3pm local time.
Emergency services rushed to the scene and brought the boy back to the shore in a boat, where he was treated before being taken to Exmouth Hospital for treatment.
His injuries are not believed to be life-threatening and the boy was transported to Perth Children's Hospital in the evening, according to Australian media.
A shark alert has been issued in the area and swimmers have been warned to take extra care even in shallow waters.
Surf Life Saving WA said an unidentified species of shark had been spotted just one metre offshore.
Local beaches from Pilgramunna north to Bloodwood Creek in Cape Range National Park have been closed.
The incident comes one week after professional surfer Max Marsden was bitten by a shark off the coast of Lucy's Beach, north of Perth.
The man's friend Danny Williams, who was onshore when the incident happened, said Max fought back and began punching the 5ft bronze whaler shark before escaping back to shore.
The surfer was rushed to hospital and is now recovering at home.
His friend Danny told local media: "He’s got a few bits of teeth still in his arm... from the sounds of things, it's ripped all the muscle of his bone."
In February this year, a teenage girl sadly died after being mauled by a shark in Western Australia.
The 16-year-old was jetskiing with her friends south of Perth when she dived into the Swan River in North Fremantle after spotting a pool of dolphins.
While swimming, she was attacked by a shark and later died - marking the first fatal attack in the Swan River since 1923.
Emergency services were rushed to the scene, where she was pulled out of the water with severe leg injuries.
Despite the attempts of several paramedics to save her, the teenager died.
