Daniel Smith was attacked while fishing at Rudder Reef with his father and school mates. Source: Supplied

Ambulances wait at Sugar Wharf in Port Douglas. Source: AAP

Daniel Smith, 18, was fishing at Rudder Reef with his father and school mates off Cape Tribulation on Cape York just before midday when he was ­attacked and bitten on the upper thigh and arm.

The young man, who last month graduated from Mossman State High School near Port Douglas, was dragged into the boat bleeding heavily.

A nearby tourist dive boat was called and took him aboard. He was pronounced dead soon after the boat arrived at Port Douglas, north of Cairns, two hours later.

Mr Smith is the first person to die from a shark attack in Queensland since Sarah Kate Whiley was mauled by up to three bull sharks while swimming off North Stradbroke Island in 2006. It is the first fatal attack in far north Queensland since Mark Thompson was attacked while spear fishing at Opal Reef in December 2004.

Ambulance Service spokesman Greg Thiedecke told reporters the teenager had extensive injuries to his right upper leg, groin and right upper arm, and suffered a heart ­attack, likely from blood loss.

Mr Thiedecke said paramedics were waiting for the boy when the boat arrived at Port Douglas at about 1.30pm. “When they arrived, the people were still doing CPR on him, trying to save him,” he said.

Mr Thiedecke said a helicopter was unavailable because it was en-route to Townsville with a patient.

Authorities have been unable to confirm the type of shark.

Douglas Shire Mayor Julia Leu said it was a tragedy that would ­affect not just the family, but the ­entire community.

“We’re a close-knit family and this will affect everyone in some way as we try to comprehend this tragedy,” she said.