As a result of a shark attack on a dolphin, tens of thousands of swimmers attending a surf carnival were evacuated from the ocean.
The dolphin beached itself on Shelly Beach at around 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, as hundreds gathered at the beach in northern Sydney for the Manly Surf Carnival.
The shark warning was activated at both Manly and Shelly Beach at 9 a.m., after SLS NSW allegedly observed three bull sharks measuring 2.5 metres in the region.
The dolphin was seen slowly circling in distress in the ocean.
It is thought that the animal got a tail damage when rescuers sought to save its life.
The Manly Open Surf Classic features Ironman and Ironwoman competitions including paddle boards and swims through the Manly beach breakers.
Children under the age of 15 were participating in the water at the time the dolphin was thought to have been attacked.
Hundreds were anticipated to participate in competitions throughout the weekend, while many more swam at the beaches for recreation.
Since then, the event has been postponed till further notice.
Warmer weather is luring bull sharks into Sydney’s crowded seas, resulting in an explosion of bull shark populations.
Two three-meter bull sharks have been captured by fishermen in Sydney’s renowned swimming spots as they migrate south in pursuit of food.
One was captured in Sydney Harbour less than a kilometre from a recently established swimming area in Barangaroo.
The second was captured at Dolls Beach in Botany Bay two weeks later.
»After a shark mauled a dolphin, hundreds of surf carnival swimmers were evacuated«