Woman dies after shark attack

A woman died today after she was attacked by a shark off eastern Australia, a rescue helicopter spokeswoman said.

The woman, 21, whose identity was not immediately released, suffered severe injuries when she was mauled by a shark while swimming near North Stradbroke Island, east of the Queensland state capital Brisbane.

After the attack, the woman was airlifted to a local hospital where she had to have both arms amputated just below the elbow, Queensland Rescue Helicopter spokeswoman Helen Anderson said.

“I believe she also had flesh wounds to her leg and torso,” she said.

The woman died of her injuries while in hospital, a Queensland state police spokeswoman.

It was not clear what type of shark attacked the woman or what she was doing at the time of the attack.