A woman has been killed by a shark and a man seriously injured at a popular beach in Australia.

Emergency services were alerted to the attack at Crowdy Bay National Park, near Port Macquarie, around 218 miles north of Sydney , at 6.30am local time on Thursday.

They were responding to reports two people had been bitten by a shark .

The pair had entered the water at Kylies Beach, a popular surfing spot, for an early morning swim.

The woman, who is believed to be in her 20s, died at the scene. She has not yet been identified.

The man, also understood to be in his 20s, was airlifted to hospital in a critical condition.

He is now said to be in a serious but stable condition, with police believing a bystander's first aid may have prevented a double fatality.

Police Chief Inspector

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