Surfer 'torn to pieces' by shark

Authorities in Sydney said today they would kill the shark that tore apart a young surfer near a popular beach as his friends desperately tried to save him by beating the animal with oars.

The South Australia state government’s acting leader Kevin Foley said a single 16ft great white shark was believed to be responsible for the savage attack on 18-year-old Nick Peterson.

Great whites are a protected species, but Foley said it would be killed because it was a threat to swimmers.

Mr Peterson was attacked after he fell from his surfboard while it was being towed behind a motor boat at West Beach, close to Adelaide. His friends pounded the shark with oars in an attempt to make it release Peterson, The Australian newspaper reported.