Sydney reopens beach under heavy patrols after shark attack

SYDNEY, June 15 (Reuters): Sydney's Coogee Beach reopened on Monday under the watchful eyes of lifeguards and jet ski patrols, after a shark attack over the weekend left a woman critically injured and prompted a safety review at Australia's popular shorelines.

The 35-year-old victim was swimming about 30 metres (100 feet) from the shore on Saturday morning when she was bitten by a three-to-four-metre-long shark, sustaining serious injuries to her arms and lower left leg. She remains in hospital in stable condition.

Local authorities urged swimmers to be cautious.

"Our Lifeguards will continue JetSki patrols throughout the day, and Surf Life Saving NSW is operating a shark-spotting drone at Coogee Beach," Randwick City Council said in a statement.

Coogee, south of iconic Bondi Beach, is symbolic of Sydney's coastal lifestyle. The beaches, which lie east of the city, are famous for their golden sands and dramatic coastal cliffs and draw millions of tourists from around the world every year, making water safety a high-stakes priority for the authorities.

"I wouldn't even dip my toe in at the minute," said local resident Ryan Brady.

"I used to do a few lengths across the beach but I'd always have in the back of my mind is there sharks around but after, after the weekend, no. It's kind of a nail in the coffin for me."

Saturday's attack was the latest in a series of shark encounters off Australian beaches.