Tourists were still heading to Rottnest Island on Sunday, but many were feeling nervous, a day after a deadly shark attack claimed the life of a father-of-two.
Deadly Encounter
Steven Mattaboni, a 37-year-old father of two, was spear-fishing near Horseshoe Reef when he was killed by a great white shark, described by witnesses as four to five metres long. The incident has sent shockwaves through the community and raised concerns about water safety.
Tourism Minister Reece Whitby called the tragedy “extremely confronting and devastating” but expressed confidence that the incident would not deter visitors in the long term. “It is one of our most popular tourist destinations. It’s beautiful, and people are aware of issues in terms of personal safety,” he said. “Sharks are there, but you can talk about any location. The ocean is the preserve of these creatures, whether it’s Rottnest Island or Cottesloe Beach or anywhere.”
Tourist Reactions
The tragedy was front of mind for many tourists at the B-Shed ferry stop in Fremantle on Sunday. Gail and Devin Donoghue, visiting family from England, said they would not be swimming during their four-day stay on Rottnest Island. “It’s just terrible, we really feel for the young man,” the couple agreed. “And it’s something you can’t control, can’t plan for,” Mr Donoghue added.
Helen Wilson, along with Neil and Pamela Towers — all in their late 80s and early 90s — make the trip from Bunbury to Rottnest Island twice a year. The group said they always felt safe swimming at The Basin. “It’s an awfully scary thing that’s happened,” Mrs Wilson said. “We prefer to swim in the bays where it’s more secluded … but now we certainly won’t be swimming at all.”
Rosslyn Hanlon, a dedicated beachcomber who collects bags of rubbish along every coastline she walks, said there was always a level of caution people needed to take. “That poor man,” she said. “Rotto is so beautiful and I don’t think I’ll stop going, but it’s a reminder of the things we have to be cautious of — not only sharks when swimming, but even dugites when walking along the sand.”
Hayley Oho was shocked when informed of Saturday’s tragedy. It was her first time heading to Rottnest Island on Sunday morning. “I will not be swimming, that’s so scary,” she said. “I’ll just stick to the quokkas.”
Jaqui Georgiu and her children were returning from the island at midday on Sunday. Mrs Georgiu said she felt deeply for Mr Mattaboni’s grieving family. “It’s just awful,” she said. “Yeah, it’s certainly on your mind when you go out.”
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