A 38-year-old spear fisherman has died after being attacked by a shark off the coast of Western Australia, marking the country's second fatal shark attack this year. The incident occurred on Saturday morning at Horseshoe Reef near Rottnest Island, a popular tourist destination.
Attack Details
The man, who has not been named, was spearfishing with a friend when the shark struck. Witnesses reported seeing a 16-foot (5-meter) shark near the reef at around 10 a.m. local time, according to Surf Life Saving WA (SLSWA). The victim was pulled from the water and rushed to a hospital, but medical staff were unable to revive him, and he was pronounced dead.
Authorities Respond
The Western Australian government issued a statement confirming that the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is assisting police with the investigation. Officials urged the public to exercise "additional caution" when entering the water around the reef and bay. Surfers were advised to follow any beach closures that local authorities typically implement after shark bites.
The attack occurred 19.2 miles (32 kilometers) west of Perth, the state capital. Police are working to determine the species of shark involved.
Recent Shark Incidents in Australia
This tragedy comes two months after a 12-year-old boy, Nico Antic, was killed by a shark while swimming with friends in Sydney Harbour. The schoolboy suffered severe injuries to both legs and could not be saved despite being rushed to hospital.
Additionally, a diver died in a shark attack near Rottnest Island on October 22, 2011. George Wainwright, 32, was killed by a great white shark, which left catastrophic injuries to his torso.
Shark Attack Statistics
According to the Australian Shark-Incident Database, there were 25 shark attacks on humans off the Australian coast last year, 22 of which were unprovoked. Of these, five were fatal. However, the monitoring organization emphasizes that attacks on humans by sharks remain rare.
For context, Surf Life Saving Australia reported 357 coastal drowning deaths and 1,314 fatalities on Australian roads over the same 12-month period.
