Greek Australian doctor killed by shark

Greek Australian doctor Daniel Christidis was mauled and killed by a shark in the Whitsunday Island's Cid Harbour on Monday.

The 33-year-old victim worked as a urologist at Melbourne's Austin Health and died from the attack by an unknown species of shark.

A spokeswoman for Austin Health in Melbourne, where Dr. Christidis worked as a research fellow in the urology department, said the organisation was "devastated by the news" and that it was making arrangements to support staff and his family after the tragedy.

"We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Dr. Daniel Christidis who was a research fellow with Austin Health," the organisation said in a statement.

"Our thoughts are with his family during this extremely difficult time. We are reaching out to his colleagues and will provide counselling support to anyone who needs it."

Reports claim that Dr. Christidis had only recently finished his Ph.D. and was due to begin a training placement at a hospital.

He was among colleagues including specialists and medical practitioners on the first day of a five-day cruise in the Whitsundays on Monday evening and was sharing a paddleboard with a female friend when he was attacked.

"The man and woman on board have gone into the water in the late afternoon and they were taking turns at using a stand-up paddleboard. The woman has got out of the water off the standing paddleboard and the man has gone into the water. Shortly thereafter he was the victim of an attack by the shark,” police authorities said.

Dr. Christidis suffered severe injuries to his left thigh, right calf, and left wrist, and the group gave first aid to him after he was pulled from the water onto the 40-foot chartered vessel.

Police later confirmed he died in hospital.