Surfer killed in shark attack

A shark attacked and killed a 30-year-old surfer at a popular west Australian beach today, government officials said.

The man is believed to have been surfing with friends at a beach south of Gracetown, near Margaret River town, when he was knocked off his board.

The Western Australian department of fisheries confirmed that the surfer had died but could not provide details of the attack.

The department said it was possible two sharks could have been involved.

The last fatal shark attack in Australia occurred last year on the Gold Coast in Queensland state.

An 84-year-old man was killed while swimming in a canal linked to the nearby Pacific Ocean.