Panic rises globally after bull shark kills young woman in Sydney
Written by Bianca Burdulea on 27th November 2025
There has been a rise in concern following the killing of a young woman by a bull shark in Sydney, Australia, earlier today.
A man and a woman in their 20s were attacked while swimming at Crowdy Bay beach in New South Wales. Witnesses contacted emergency services at about 6:30am Australian Western Standard Time.
The woman died on the scene and the man suffered serious injuries but a bystander applied a makeshift tourniquet to his leg before paramedics and the Westpac rescue helicopter arrived.
NSW Ambulance Supt Joshua Smyth told The Guardian: “[That] potentially saved his life. The courage from some bystanders is amazing. To put yourself out there is very heroic and it did give us time to get to the male patient.”
This story went trending in many regions of the world (including in the UK) very quickly due to its horrifying nature.
Bull sharks can be found close to shore and in warmer waters which makes them more likely to encounter swimmers, said Rob Harcourt, emeritus professor of marine ecology at Macquarie University, according to The Guardian.
Bull sharks haven’t been found in UK waters because they prefer warmer, tropical climates. The type of sharks found in UK are basking sharks, which is the second- largest fish in the world but are harmless to humans and can be spotted off the UK coast.
Blue sharks can be spotted at the coast of southwest England, Wales, and Scotland during summer. These gentle giants can reach a staggering 12 metres, yet only feed on tiny plankton.
The Porbeagle shark however, is a fearsome predator noted for its sleek physique and stunningly muscular structure. They are found in cooler Atlantic waters, particularly those near the UK.
One of the most prevalent shark species in the Spiny Dogfish (Squalus acanthias). UK seas provide a great environment for these little sharks which are named for their jagged spines in front of their dorsal fins.
They’re opportunistic predators which eat a range of tiny fish and invertebrates.
