A 39-year-old man has died after being attacked by a shark while swimming off the coast of Queensland, Australia.

The incident occurred near the town of Cairns, and emergency services were called to the scene.

The man was retrieved from the water but succumbed to his injuries.

This is the second fatal shark attack in Australian waters in recent weeks, following a similar incident near Perth, Western Australia.

Shark attacks are relatively common in Australia, but most are not fatal.

Popular swimming and surfing spots often have measures in place to prevent attacks.