A shark hunt is underway off Australia’s east coast after a father was killed in a “freak” attack at a Sydney beach.

The last time a person was killed by a shark in Sydney was in February 2022. That was the city's first fatal shark attack since 1963. Shark nets were installed at 51 beaches between Newcastle and Wollongong on Monday as part of a seasonal program.

The male victim was pulled from the water by other surfers, but had lost too much blood and died at the scene, said Police Superintendent John Duncan.