Man dies in shark attack off Australia's west coast

A man has died after being bitten by a shark at a beach popular with tourists on Australia's northwest coast.

The man's death marks the eighth fatal shark attack in Australian waters this year.

On Sunday, police were called to a Cable Beach in the morning after reports of the attack -- when the man was pulled from the water and given medical treatment but later succumbed to his injuries.

"Police can confirm that tragically the man has died," Western Australia police said in a statement.

Shark attacks are rare on Cable Beach, a 22-kilometre (13-mile) stretch of pristine white sand next to the town of Broome.

But authorities are generally forced to close the beach once or twice a year when deadly saltwater crocodiles are spotted nearby. 

There have been at least 22 shark maulings this year, according to the Taronga Conservation Society Australia government agency.