A 35-year-old man has tragically lost his life after being attacked by a shark, believed to be approximately 4.5 meters in length, while spearfishing with his family off the coast of Western Australia.
Incident Details
The incident occurred on Saturday morning near Michaelmas Island, situated off the coast of Albany, about 420 kilometers southeast of Perth. Emergency services were alerted shortly before 11:20 AM local time and rushed to Albany Marina, where a boat carrying the critically injured man was expected to meet paramedics.
Despite efforts to revive him, WA Police confirmed on Saturday afternoon that the man could not be saved. A police spokeswoman stated, “A 35-year-old man was spearfishing with family off Michaelmas Island when he was attacked by a shark. He was conveyed back to shore by boat where he was met by St John Ambulance WA paramedics. Sadly, he was unable to be revived. WA Police will prepare a report for the coroner.”
Emergency Response
A spokesperson for St John Ambulance reported that the man sustained critical injuries in the suspected shark attack. A member of the public had reported a shark, estimated at 4.5 meters, off Michaelmas Island to Shark Smart earlier that morning. Michaelmas Island lies approximately 13 kilometers off Western Australia’s southern coastline, within King George Sound.
Recent Similar Incident
This tragedy follows closely on the heels of another fatal shark attack. On May 16, 38-year-old Steven Mattaboni, a father of two, was killed while spearfishing off Rottnest Island. He was believed to have been bitten by a great white shark about one kilometer offshore.
The recurring incidents have raised concerns about shark activity in the region. Authorities continue to investigate and urge caution for those engaging in water activities near known shark habitats.
