A surfer was killed in a savage shark attack off Australia’s west coast, officials said, the fifth such fatality in the region in less than a year.

The man was surfing near Wedge Island, north of Perth, yesterday morning with a friend when he was mauled by the shark, suffering severe and extensive injuries.

Beach patrol officials confirmed that the attack was fatal, and a large-scale air, coast and sea search was underway for the remains of the victim, who was reported to be in his early 20s.

A police spokesman told AFP: “At this stage no remains have been located.”