A teenage boy has died in a shark attack at a popular holiday and surfing spot on Australia’s south coast, police say.

The boy’s body was recovered from the water after the attack, near Ethel Beach in Innes National Park on the Yorke Peninsulaauthorities said.

Witnesses said that the attack on the 15-year-old teenager took place in front of his horrified father.

“The shark grabbed the boy’s leg and a surfer ran to help him. The shark circled them while there was a lot of blood. He brought him to shore, but I think it was too late.”he said bathing in the area.

A local resident said this was the first fatal attack at the resort, although there have been several recent attacks in South Australian waters.

In a statement, South Australian police said officers were first alerted to the attack on Thursday at 1.30pm local time (02:30 GMT).

“Unfortunately, the body of a teenager was recovered from the water”the police said in a statement.

Ethel Beach is a 400m long sandy beach, popular with surfers and tourists, with waves averaging 1.5m.

According to an eyewitness and resident of the area, the victim may have been approx “30 to 40 meters from the shore”while he added that “the area has always had sharks but it seems there are a lot more now.”

In May, a surfer was killed off the Eyre Peninsula, and in February, a girl was mauled by a shark in a river in Perth, the capital of Western Australia.

Australia has more shark attacks than any other country except the US.