A man is in a critical condition after being attacked by a shark at Clovelly Corner, Fish Hoek, on Wednesday, the City of Cape Town said.
A great white struck just after midday when the man was swimming, severing his lower right leg, spokesman Gregg Oelofse said in a statement.
He was airlifted to hospital in a critical condition.
Earlier in the day, shark spotters raised the alert that a shark was in the vicinity and the beach was closed. When the man went swimming, the white shark-alert flag was still displayed and the beach was still closed, Oelofse said.
Shark spotters saw the man enter the water, and frantically ran to alert him, but did not reach him in time.
"The shark spotter stationed on the beach was warned by a spotter on the mountain that someone had entered the water. The shark spotter then ran to Clovelly Corner to try and get the swimmer out of the water, but the attack took place before he could reach him," the city said
The victim of the shark attack was the only person in the water at the time.
Fish Hoek beach as well as Glencairn, St James and Muizenberg beaches were closed as a precaution until further notice.
The shark was still in Fish Hoek bay in the afternoon and being monitored by the spotters. - Sapa