Dad Adam Strange dragged out to sea as great white sharks embark on a feeding frenzy A man is dead after being attacked by a shark while swimming at Muriwai Beach, north of Auckland. Father-of-one Adam Strange died after being attacked by a 4m-long shark while swimming 200m off shore from Maori Bay to Muriwai Beach, a popular surf beach. Up to 200 people attended a tapu-lifting ceremony at the beach this morning, with many wading into ankle-deep water and embracing. Police told the New Zealand Herald it was possible up to three sharks, believed to be great whites, had been feeding on fish and birds in the water and Mr Strange swam straight into their path. Director Adam Strange was killed by a shark yesterday off Auckland's west coast. Despite seeing "blood everywhere on the water," witnesses said the 46-year-old TV commercial director was not killed by the first attack. "He was still alive, he put his head up, we called him to swim over the rock to where we were," fisherman Pio Mosie said. Mr Mosie and about 200 other swimmers watched helplessly as the shark dragged the man's body out to sea. Police in inflatable rubber boats shoot at a shark off Muriwai Beach near Auckland, New Zealand. Inset: Adam Strange. Picture: Ross Land The blood trail soon attracted more sharks, with at least two circling near the body. An inflatable boat carrying lifeguards and police gave chase followed by a police helicopter. It took about 30 minutes to recover the body, with witnesses claiming the shark refused to let go until police shot at it. Inspector Shawn Rutene, of Auckland police, said it was unclear whether the shot hit the shark but said it had rolled off and disappeared. Witnesses also believe they heard at least three shots fired from the helicopter. Picture: Westpac Rescue/Twitter Mr Strange's body was retrieved from the water and taken ashore, where his wife Meg was waiting with other family members. The couple married two years ago and have a two-year-old daughter, Indigo, the Herald reports. A family friend, who asked not to be named, yesterday said: "The family are grieving the loss of a glorious and great father, husband and friend. We are in deep shock and are still trying to contact family who are overseas. Police comfort a woman believed to be a family member of a man attacked by a shark at Muriwai Beach near Auckland, New Zealand. AP Photo/Ross Land Mr Strange was a TV commercial director and had worked around the world on several projects. His first short film, Aphrodite's Farm, won the prestigious Crystal Bear award for Best Short Film at the Berlin Film Festival. Muriwai Volunteer Lifeguard Service chairman Tim Jago said Mr Strange was "a good water man" and was well known to the lifeguards who tried to save him. He said the shark that attacked the man was believed to be a 4m great white. "They're not a common occurrence," Mr Jago said. No one has seen anything this big out here ever. Inspector Rutene said the victim's family "are very upset and very distraught." Mr Jago said all west Auckland beaches, including Muriwai, Karekare, Bethells Beach and Piha, had been closed as attempts were made to see if there were still sharks in the area. Shark deaths are uncommon in NZ, with only 14 known fatal shark attacks since records began about 1837.The last death was in 2009, when a kayaker was mauled by a great white, but it is not known whether he drowned before the shark found him. Before that the last death was in 1976. Will's Fishing and Firearms owner William Cleverdon there was a better chance of striking the shark if the officer had been firing directly downwards. "Bullets do change direction and the velocity is significantly slower when they hit the water, but they do keep going," he said. If he was shooting at a 45-degree angle, then it would've been harder to hit as the deflection would have been too great.