Teen killed in shark attack in Australia

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A shark attacked and killed a teenage boy today while he and a friend were bodyboarding off Australia’s eastern coast, the Associated Press’ Sydney bureau reports.

The 16-year-old, whose name was not released, was about 50 yards from shore when the shark attacked around 8 a.m. today, lifeguard spokesman Stephen Leahy told the AP. The victim suffered two large bites, one to the leg and one to the body. He died of extreme blood loss while lifeguards and paramedics tried to save him.

There are about 15 shark attacks a year in Australian waters -- one of the highest rates in the world -- but on average just over one attack per year is fatal, according to the AP. The sharks pictured below are from Nassau, Bahamas, where shark attacks also have been chronicled.

-- Francisco Vara-Orta