Emergency services at the scene of the Gracetown shark attack this morning.
Camera IconEmergency services at the scene of the Gracetown shark attack this morning. Credit: Supplied/ABC/Twitter.

UPDATE: Ambulance crew at scene of second Gracetown shark attack

Staff WriterEastern Reporter

UPDATE: St John Ambulance is at the scene of a second shark attack at the same Gracetown beach on the same day.

A St John spokeswoman said the RAC Rescue helicopter was originally called but was stood down after it was determined the patient’s injuries were not serious.

She said the man in his 30s walked up to the carpark, where he is being treated by a Margaret River ambulance crew and a community paramedic.

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Opposition Tourism spokeswoman Libby Mettam said the State Government needed to do more to mitigate shark attacks.

“This is not a campaign we want to bring to the next election and I would hope the Government will now take the issue of public safety more seriously,” Ms Mettam said.

“There are a number of options available to reduce the risk of shark attacks, including clever buoys and SMART Drumlines which the NSW government have invested in.”

EARLIER: The victim of a shark attack in Gracetown this morning has arrived in Perth via the RAC Rescue helicopter.

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Camera IconImage Credit: Supplied/David Baylis

The man, who is aged in his 30s, is conscious and breathing and being treated for leg injuries.

The chopper touched down at RPH before 11am.

Career and volunteer firefighters, volunteer ambulance offices and a community paramedic assisted the RAC Rescue helicopter crew at the scene this morning.

A St John spokeswoman said the call came in at 7.54am this morning.

Surfers have returned to the water at the nearby Margaret River Pro after the event was periodically put on hold.

A statement from the World Surf League, which puts on the event, said the decision to resume the event was made after discussions with local authorities, the Water Safety Team and surfers.

“Surfer and staff safety are top priorities for the WSL and when competition resumed, further enhanced safety measures, including ski and drone presence, were added to the event’s mitigation protocols,” WSL Commissioner Kieren Perrow said.

“Thoughts are with the victim and family right now.”

Surf Life Saving WA registered a shark sighting in the area at 8.45am on Twitter.

Hamelin Bay, which is just 50km down the road, remains closed after a mass whale beaching resulted in the deaths of more than 140 short finned pilot whales.

There were concerns over the weekend that the carcasses could attract sharks.

More to come.

Recent shark attacks in WA

2010: AUGUST: Nick Edwards, 31, dies after a shark attacks him while he is surfing near Gracetown in the South West region

2011: SEPTEMBER: Kyle Burden, 21, killed while boogie boarding at Bunker Bay, in the South West OCTOBER: Bryn Martin, 64, disappears at Cottesloe Beach, with a shark thought to be responsible after his damaged Speedos are found OCTOBER: US man George Thomas Wainwright, 32, is killed while diving off Rottnest Island

2012: MARCH: Peter Kurmann, 33, dies after an attack while diving off Stratham Beach, between Busselton and Bunbury, in the South West JULY: Surfer Ben Linden, 24, killed off Wedge Island, near Lancelin, north of Perth

2013 NOVEMBER: Chris Boyd, 35, killed at Gracetown in the South West

2014 DECEMBER: Spear fisher Jay Muscat, 17, killed in an attack by a large shark near Albany

2016 JUNE: Surfer Ben Gerring, 29, dies three days after losing his leg in an attack at Falcon Beach JUNE: Doreen Collyer, 60, is killed less than a week later by a large shark while diving with a friend off Mindarie, in Perth’s outer north

2017 APRIL: Laeticia Brouwer, 17, girl was fatally bitten on the leg while surfing with her dad at popular surf break Kelp Beds, near Wylie Bay, in Esperance.