Surfer dies after shark attack off Sydney beach

A surfer attacked by a large shark at a Sydney beach died of his injuries, police said on Saturday.

A surfer attacked by a large shark at a Sydney beach died of his injuries, police said on Saturday, the first such incident in more than 3 1/2 years, prompting the closure of several other beaches.

The victim, yet to be identified, was attacked about 328 ft from shore while surfing with friends just after 10 a.m. local time (8 p.m. ET Friday) at Long Reef Beach, in the north of the capital of the Australian state of New South Wales, police said.

He was pulled from the water by other surfers, but had lost too much blood and died at the scene, said police superintendent John Duncan of Sydney's Northern Beaches unit.

"He'd suffered catastrophic injuries," Duncan told a televised press conference.

An experienced surfer, the victim left behind a wife and young daughter, he said.