Australian man killed by shark in New Caledonia

The 59 year-old man was attacked by a shark while swimming near a pontoon, around 150 metres from the beach, New Caledonian authorities said.

Nearby boaters scooped the man out of the water after witnessing the attack, returning him to the beach for urgent medical care at 4.10pm February 19.

Swimmers rushed to escape the waters on the popular Château-Royal beach near the country's capital, Nouméa, as police evacuated the beach.

Dr Vincent Ouradou, a paramedic and fellow holidaymaker, attended to the man's injuries on the beach, estimating the shark bit three times.

The Australian man sustained major injuries to one leg and both arms, and he died at the scene.

Beaches in the region are closed, with drones tracking tiger and bull sharks in the area for capture.

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"DFAT offers its condolences to the family, who has requested privacy at this difficult time," a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson told ACM.

This is the area's third shark attack of the year, after a 49 year-old woman was attacked while swimming in January and a surfer was attacked, without injury, days later.