The 16-year-old woman who died after being mauled by a shark whereas swimming in Perth’s Swan River has been recognized as her shattered family and friends members come to phrases together with her loss.
Stella Berry was a 12 months 11 pupil at Shenton Faculty in Perth, The West Australian confirmed on Sunday.
She was pulled from the river close to the Fremantle site visitors bridge, south of Perth, simply after 3.30pm (6.30pm AEDT) on Saturday with important accidents to her leg, in keeping with experiences.
Emergency companies rushed to the riverbank however paramedics had been unable to avoid wasting her life.
WA Police confirmed simply earlier than 6pm (9pm AEDT) the woman had died on the scene.
Her buddies, who gathered on the financial institution of the river on Sunday, have remembered Stella as good and sort with a eager curiosity in operating.
Her good friend, Lara Connolly, described her because the “sweetest and smartest girl that I knew” and stated she “never did anything wrong to anybody,” ABC Newsreported.
“She was so kind. She loved art. I’d ride my bike to see her sometimes and I’d see her running,” Ms Connolly stated.
One other good friend, Teagan McArthur, stated Ms Berry’s demise “doesn’t feel real”.
“We were all in contact with her less than 24 hours ago and now she’s not here with us.”
The college despatched an electronic mail to folks on Sunday morning, providing its condolences to Stella’s household.
“It is with great sadness, sincere empathy and the deepest regret that I write to inform you that Stella Berry (Year 11) … tragically lost her life on Saturday 4th February in an incident at the river in North Fremantle,” Principal Michael Morgan wrote.
“I have personally offered, on behalf of the college, our condolences and support to Stella’s family during this very sad time.”
The Division of Main Industries and Regional Improvement (DPIRD) stated it was “currently assisting WA Police with a possible serious shark bite incident in the Swan River at North Fremantle”.
“A female received injuries after being bitten by an unknown species of shark at approximately 3.35pm on February 4 2023,” DPIRD stated in a press release.
“DPIRD is working with WA Police and local authorities to coordinate responses. A DPIRD Fisheries vessel is on the water monitoring the area, and DPIRD officers are conducting land-based patrols.”
The general public has been urged to “take additional caution in the Swan River in the North Fremantle area”.
Police stated the woman had been using jet skis with buddies.
“It’s an extremely traumatic event for everyone involved and obviously, anyone that knew the young girl,” Fremantle District Appearing Inspector Paul Robinson informed reporters.
“What we’re being advised is she was with friends on the river, they were on jet skis. It was possibly a pod of dolphins seen nearby and the young female jumped in the water to swim nearby the dolphins.”
He the investigation was nonetheless ongoing however “all indications by witness accounts is that it appears to be a shark-related incident”.
Appearing Inspector Robinson stated the woman’s household weren’t current on the time and had been “absolutely devastated by the news”.
“However her friends were and as you can imagine this is an extremely traumatic incident for anyone to witness so obviously, we’re offering counselling services to anyone who did witness it or is affected by the incident,” he stated.
A witness earlier informed The West Australian the teenager had been rope swinging together with her buddies off the site visitors bridge.
“The girl jumped off the rope swing and then a bull shark pulled her under and then her boyfriend tried to like help her get out,” a boy informed the newspaper.
“And she passed away on the beach.”
One other native resident told the ABC she heard kids screaming and went out to see what was occurring.
She stated the woman’s harm was “like nothing I’ve seen before”.
A number of witnesses stated a person jumped into the water to attempt to assist the woman, describing him as a “hero”.
It’s the primary shark assault within the Swan River since Perth man Cameron Wrathall was bitten on his leg in January 2021.
On the time, Mr Wrathall was the primary particular person to be attacked since 1968.
WA Fisheries Minister Don Punch expressed his condolences to the woman’s household.
“I am incredibly saddened by what has happened and I cannot begin to imagine what the victim’s family and friends are going through,” he stated in a press release, per The West Australian.
“We offer them our support but understand they will need time and space as they deal with this tragedy.”
Initially revealed as ‘Sweetest girl I knew’: Teenage shark attack victim remembered
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