A shark attacked a swimmer at a popular Sydney beach. How rare is it – and how can you stay safe?

Experts say Saturday’s attack occurred in clearer and cooler water than the bull shark activity over summer, in which heavy rainfall created turbid water that attracted smaller fish and sharks closer to shore. Photograph: Hollie Adams/Reuters

A woman is in hospital in a critical condition after being bitten by a shark at Sydney’s Coogee beach, one of Australia’s most popular swimming spots.

The incident follows a series of shark attacks in New South Wales over the summer, prompting concern among beachgoers and renewed debate about how authorities should respond.