Woman mauled by a shark at Sydney’s iconic Coogee Beach

The latest attack comes after surfer Alejo Santiñaque survived a terrifying encounter with a shark off the coast of Australia earlier this month.

The 20-year-old Uruguayan was waiting for a wave at Red Cliff when a shark suddenly latched onto his foot and dragged him underwater.

Santiñaque recalled the ordeal in a Facebook post, saying his instinctive reaction may have saved his life.

“I suddenly felt a hard blow and a strong pull on my foot,” he wrote. “A shark bit me.”

The shark became entangled in his surfboard’s leash as it pulled him beneath the surface. Instead of panicking, Santiñaque immediately fought back.

“It pulled me into the water and my immediate reaction was to kick it as hard as I could to release it,” he explained.

The tactic worked and forced the shark to release its grip. Despite suffering a torn tendon and muscle that later required surgery, Santiñaque said staying calm was crucial to his survival.

“Keeping a clear head was crucial,” he said. “From the moment I was bitten until I reached the beach, I focused on what I had to do and avoided panicking.”