A man has been killed in an apparent shark attack at the popular tourist destination of Byron Bay on Australia's east coast. The victim, believed to be 50 years of age, was "bitten on the right leg" according to police.

Paramedics were called to Clarkes Beach but were unable to save the man.

Police confirmed in a statement that the victim, who was in his 40s, was "bitten on the right leg by what is believed to be a shark".

"He was seen floating in shallow water, close to the shore line, and dragged on to the beach," the statement said.

According to the Guardian, the man in question was swimming in the shallows when he was attacked by a shark. Another swimmer tried to save the man but he died at the scene.

Newcastle lawyer, Mark Hickey, who was identified by News Corp as the man who tried to rescue the swimmer, told a reporter he rushed into the water to try save the man.

“I saw what looked like seaweed but it was blood in the water,” he said.

“The shark came back to him and had another go. I didn’t know it was a person but when I realised I ran out and waded to the bank and grabbed him and did CPR but it was too late.”

The death is the first blamed on a shark in Australia since April 3 when a 63-year-old woman was taken killed near the village of Tathra, 210 miles (340km) south of Sydney.

Although sharks are common off Australia's coast, the country has averaged fewer than two fatal attacks per year in recent decades.

But fatal attacks are becoming more common. Two men were killed in shark attacks off the east and west coasts in the space of a week in November last year.

They were the only fatalities in 2013.