Following a series of fatal shark attacks in Western Australia, local authorities have issued a rare order to capture and kill the shark involved.

According to Australian public broadcaster ABC and British broadcaster BBC, a 63-year-old man swimming at Sorrento Beach, a popular beach in Perth, the capital of WA, was bitten and killed by a great white shark on the morning of the 18th.

A witness told ABC that two men were swimming, but only one returned to the shore, and they saw "blood spreading thickly" in the water.

Another witness reported seeing the shark attacking the man, "tossing him around like a fish."

At the time of the incident, citizens also reported seeing a shark about 2.5 meters long.

This incident marks the second shark attack in WA this week and the third shark-related death this year.

It is the first time since 2020 that three people have died from shark attacks in WA in a single year.

In response, Jackie Jarvis, WA Fisheries Minister, stated the previous day that WA marine police spotted the shark, "positively identified it as the shark involved in this incident," and ordered it to be captured and killed.

Minister Jarvis explained that such an "unusual" measure was taken considering the exceptional circumstances of the attack and the danger posed by the shark, noting that she believes this is the first shark kill order in WA in 10 years.

However, she drew a line by stating that "great white sharks are an internationally protected species," and that it would not be appropriate to cull all other great white sharks besides the specific one.

Consequently, local authorities have deployed floating drum lines used for catching sharks in the sea.

They have also temporarily closed major beaches in Perth and mobilized police boats and helicopters to search for the shark.

(Photo: Yonhap News)