Lance Appleby, a 28-year-old surfer, has gone missing after a shark attack in South Australia on January 2, marking the fourth fatal incident in the region within 18 months.
Research indicates an increase in shark bite fatalities in Australia, with an average of 2.7 deaths annually over the past decade compared to 1.8 previously.
Despite higher shark bite rates, the absolute risk to swimmers is minimal; statistics show you are about 20 times more likely to drown at the beach than be killed by a shark.
Experts attribute heightened fears of sharks to factors like evolutionary instincts, media portrayals, and the immediate impact of recent incidents.
The overall trend suggests an improvement in survival rates from shark bites due to better emergency response and the presence of others for quick assistance.
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