“The man in his 50s was kitesurfing inside the reef at Koumac”.
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Nicolas Renaud, the head of the rescue co-ordination centre, said the man was from Fremantle, Western Australia.
The incident occurred off New Caledonia’s main island, the second fatal shark attack in six months in the South Pacific territory.
The rescue centre at Noumea received the distress call at 3.48pm local time, 12.48pm Perth time. The other two attacks, in February and June, were not fatal.
The victim was taken back to the port at Koumac, Mr Renaud said.
A nearby catamaran, Discovery, raised the alarm and provided first aid, but the victim, who went into cardiac arrest and was given first aid by his friends before rescuers came, was declared dead over an hour later, reports Sydney Morning Herald.
“We can’t stop sharks entering the lagoon”, he said.
He said the boat’s crew was not able to identify the species of shark, but said it was very large.
He said the man had arrived Sunday for a vacation that was due to last about 10 days and had booked a cruise on a sailing vessel so he could do some kitesurfing.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said Australian consular officials are assisting the man’s family.
Six of the attacks were fatal.
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There were 98 shark attacks globally previous year – the highest number ever recorded, according to researchers at the University of Florida, which has been collecting data since 1958.
