Great white shark trapped, killed following brutal attack in Australia

A great white shark thought to have caused life-threatening injuries to a surfer near the Western Australian city of Perth was trapped and killed on Thursday, the authorities confirmed.

The state's fisheries department said the 4.2 meter "white pointer" was caught in a baited drum line close to the site where 29-year-old Ben Gerring was attacked on Tuesday afternoon.

The authorities set the drum lines on Wednesday morning in an attempt to capture the shark responsible for the attack.

A spokesperson for the WA fisheries department told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Thursday that the shark had died on the line after taking the bait.

The spokesperson said the shark was then taken out to sea and disposed of after scientists took samples and measurements from the white pointer.

Meanwhile, Gerring remains in critical condition in hospital following Tuesday's attack. The fly-in-fly-out has reportedlylost a leg above the knee, and late on Wednesday his family released a statement thanking the fast-acting rescue crews for saving his life.

"We would like to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone involved in Ben's rescue and his treatment," the family's statement said.

"The bravery and efforts of his rescuers and the care provided by the doctors and nurses has been amazing."

Beaches in the immediate area of the shark attack remain closed on Thursday, while local surf lifesavers have urged the public to check "shark safe" websites before jumping in the water. Endit