A Perth dog owner's beach day turned into a scene of sheer adrenaline when her pet came within metres of a large tiger shark in the shallows of a popular dog beach. The extraordinary encounter, which saw the curious canine and the predator briefly come nose-to-nose, was captured in stunning detail by a drone camera.
A Heart-Stopping Moment in the Shallows
The incident unfolded at Whitfords Dog Beach in Perth's northern suburbs. Olive, a Groodle, was playing in ankle-deep water when she spotted the shark just a few metres away. Drone operator Lexo Aveleyra captured the dramatic footage, which shows the moment the dog and the shark make eye contact before both swiftly retreating in opposite directions.
"I put the drone up, tried to understand what just happened. And yeah, it was just impressive, obviously, because it's not something that you see every day," Aveleyra told 7NEWS.
Olive's owner, Sascha Green, watched helplessly from the shore as the potentially dangerous interaction played out in a matter of seconds. She expressed her shock at the shark's proximity, noting "The thing that shocked me was how far it came out of the water." The tiger shark was estimated to be three times the size of Olive.
Calls for Action and Official Response
The close call has prompted urgent calls for warning signs to be installed along the beach. Currently, no signs alert beachgoers to the potential presence of sharks, despite regular sightings in the area. Sascha Green has stated she is so concerned that she may take matters into her own hands.
"I'm so concerned that if something isn't done really quickly, then I will attempt to put signs up myself," Green said.
However, the City of Joondalup Mayor, Daniel Kingston, has responded that the council considers such signage unnecessary. Kingston's position is that "people are generally aware coastal waters are natural habitat for marine wildlife, including sharks." This stance comes despite 7NEWS drone footage spotting at least three sharks in the same area just last week.
A Broader Context for Beach Safety
The incident highlights the ongoing conversation about shark safety for beachgoers and their pets in Western Australia. Coincidentally, the event occurred as a shark barrier is being installed at Bathers Beach in Fremantle, which will provide a protected swimming area until April.
Fremantle Mayor Ben Lawver explained the project's goal: "The whole idea is to create a space where people that wouldn't normally go swimming in the ocean because they're worried about sharks just have a space where they can come and feel safe and have a swim."
For Olive's owner, Sascha Green, the terrifying encounter serves as a powerful warning. While relieved her dog escaped unharmed, she fears for others who may not be as lucky.
"It's a one in a million shot with Olive, but what if it's somebody else's kid?" she questioned, underscoring the potential for tragedy. The event is a stark reminder of the shared nature of Australia's coastal environments.
