Woman, 21, dies after shark attack

A WOMAN screamed out the warning "shark" as she was mauled underwater - but her friends thought she was joking, police said yesterday.

Sarah Whiley, 21, died on Saturday night of severe injuries after being attacked near North Stradbroke Island, east of the Queensland state capital Brisbane.

Whiley was swimming with a group of friends from a church group when she was pulled underwater for about five seconds then emerged and called out "Shark!" said Queensland police inspector Peter Harding.

"Of course people at the time thought she was only joking - until they saw the blood," he said yesterday.

Inspector Harding said officers were searching for the predators and had closed several nearby beaches.

"If we found them (the sharks) I suppose we would try to retrieve them and see if they have any body parts," Inspector Harding said. "The idea is to retrieve what we can."

Whiley was airlifted to a Brisbane hospital where she had to have both arms amputated just below the elbow, according to Queensland Rescue Helicopter spokeswoman Helen Anderson. She also suffered deep wounds to her legs and torso.

Inspector Harding said the severity of Whiley's injuries indicated she may have been attacked by a group of bull sharks, a species known for aggressive behaviour at this time of year.

Contrary to earlier reports, Inspector Harding said there was no dog with the woman at the time. Swimming with animals could bring on a shark attack, Australian shark expert Andrew Fox told Sky News earlier.

Insp Harding added the woman was swimming in water "anything from chest-deep to 30ft".