A close friend of a Perth father killed in a shark attack off Rottnest Island says there was “absolutely no warning” before the experienced spearfisher was bitten while diving with friends.
Steven Mattaboni, 38, was attacked while spearfishing at Horseshoe Reef on Saturday morning. He was with three friends about a kilometre offshore when he was bitten on his legs by a large shark. His friends pulled him from the water onto their boat and performed CPR on the way back to shore before paramedics took over.
Liam Thomas, a friend of more than 30 years, thanked rescue teams for doing everything they could. “There was absolutely no warning for Steven,” he said. Mr Thomas wants Mr Mattaboni to be remembered as a man who loved the ocean and his family. “His second love and his greatest love was his family. He was just so proud of his two beautiful daughters and everything that he did for them,” he said.
Mr Thomas said the family is “absolutely heartbroken” and taking it day by day. An online fundraiser for Mr Mattaboni’s family has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars. He had a long history with the Bluewater Freedivers club, serving most recently as club secretary.
