TRAGIC LOVE LOST AT KYLIES BEACH: Livia Mühlheim, 25, and her boyfriend Lukas Schindler, 26, just wanted to capture a peaceful moment with a pod of dolphins, enjoying their passion for the sea
But that seemingly happy moment turned into tragedy when a shark attacked… Lukas still fought to live, while Livia passed away, leaving behind a GoPro footage that is said to have recorded everything, leaving the community shocked and heartbroken. The first image of him has been revealed!!!
First pic of tourist mauled to death by shark off Australian coast as hero partner who tried to save her fights for life
The former synchronised swimmer had been filming a pod of dolphins when the attack happened
A SWISS tourist killed in a horror shark attack in Australia has been pictured for the first time.
Authorities in New South Wales have identified the 25-year-old as Livia Muhlheim, as her partner who fought to save her remains in a critical condition.
Livia Muhlheim, 25, was mauled to death by a bull shark off the coast of AustraliaCredit: Linkedln
The attack happened at Kylies Beach in Crowdy Bay National Park on ThursdayCredit: Alamy
Livia’s boyfriend, Lukas Schindler, fought the shark to save his partner and is currently in hospitalCredit: Marathon Photos Live
The couple were swimming at dawn on Thursday off Kylies Beach at Crowdy Bay when a large bull shark struck.
Emergency services were called at about 6.30am but Livia died on the sand before paramedics arrived.
Livia, an academic and former synchronised swimmer, had been filming a pod of dolphins on a GoPro when the shark bit her several times, tearing off her left arm.
Her boyfriend, 26-year-old diving instructor Lukas Schindler, tried to fight off the three-metre shark but was bitten twice on the leg.
Despite his injuries, he dragged her more than 50 metres to shore, where bystanders rushed to help.
Police later said a passer-by who made a tourniquet to stem Lukas’s bleeding had likely saved his life.
Lukas was airlifted to hospital and remains in critical condition.
NSW Ambulance superintendent Josh Smyth said the backpacker’s actions were “heroic”.
Authorities now say they are reviewing “harrowing footage” captured by the couple shortly before the attack.
Livia and Lukas had arrived the previous night and camped nearby.
They had backgrounds in fitness, security and international studies, and worked together as Security Operators at the World Economic Forum.
Lukas had recently completed the Sydney Marathon in under three hours, gained an Open Water Scuba Instructor certificate and finished a diving instructor course in Bondi.
He had also graduated with a Master of Arts from the University of Technology Sydney and previously served as a first lieutenant in the Swiss Armed Forces.
Livia, meanwhile, studied her Master’s in Accounting and Finance at the University of St Gallen and had been hired by a financial consulting firm last year.
Kylies Beach, known to be a shark hotspot, has been closed as drones and drumlines are deployed in an attempt to locate the shark.
Early indications suggest it was a large mature bull shark.
Bull sharks are considered “potentially dangerous to people”, the Australian Museum says.
They are also the third deadliest shark species recorded by the International Shark Attack File.
Livia’s death comes less than three months after Mercury Psillakis was killed by a 3.5-metre great white shark at Long Reef in Sydney. The surfer dad, 57, was pulled out of the water missing “both his legs” after he was attacked by the giant beast, according to witnesses.
