A diver has died after he was mauled by a shark in front of loved ones off the Western Australia coast – the third fatal attack nationwide within weeks.
The man, 35, was spearfishing with family when he was bitten by a suspected 4.5m shark just before 11.30am on Saturday at Michaelmas Island off Albany, 400km southeast of Perth.
The man was rushed by boat to the Albany marina suffering critical injuries, where he was met by St John WA paramedics.
‘Sadly, he was unable to be revived,’ a WA Police statement read.
Police will prepare a report for the coroner.
The species of shark is currently unknown.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is assisting police and local authorities.
Beachgoers have been urged to take extra caution around the island, a popular tourist spot 13km off the coast of Albany.
A diver has died after being bitten by shark off the the WA south-west coast. Pictured are forensic officers inspecting the boat
The man was rushed to shore by boat suffering critical injuries but could not be revived
The man was bitten by a suspected 4.5metre shark just before 11.30am on Saturday at Michaelmas Island off Albany
Surfers reported spotting a shark of a similar size at a beach on the island on Friday.
The Albany boat ramp was shut down following the fatal attack, as forensic officers examined the vessel.
‘We saw someone get taken away in an ambulance, and then pretty much just shut the boat ramp for anyone who wants to put the boat in the water,’ a fisherman told the West Australian.
It is the second fatal shark attack in WA and third nationwide within three weeks.
Perth father-of-two Steven Mattaboni, 38, was spearfishing with friends off Rottnest Island on May 16 when he was attacked on the leg by a suspected great white.
His friends performed CPR as they raced him by boat to the island, where paramedics were waiting, but he could not be revived.
He had become a father for the second time just four months earlier and was weeks away from celebrating his eldest daughter’s third birthday.
A week later, spearfisherman Michael Jensz was also killed while diving in the Great Barrier Reef in Far North Queensland.
The last fatal attack off Albany was in December 2014, when a local was fatally bitten by a shark while spearfishing off Cheynes Beach.
The latest tragedy comes one day after a surfer who was attacked by a shark on the NSW north coast said he was ‘very lucky’ to survive.
It is the second fatal shark attack off the WA coast within three weeks
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is assisting police and local authorities.
The island is about 400km southeast of Perth (a map is pictured)
Alejo Santiñaque, 20, was sitting on his surfboard waiting for a wave near Red Cliff when he suddenly felt a strong tug on his foot.
‘A shark had bitten me,’ he wrote on social media.
‘It pulled me into the water, and my immediate response was to kick it as hard as I could to make it let go.’
Mr Santiñaque said the shark became entangled in his surfboard leash, which was torn away from the board by the force of the attack.’
His friends helped him apply a tourniquet until the ambulance arrived.
Mr Santiñaque was taken to hospital for surgery on his foot.
The surfer said he was incredibly grateful to his mates for acting quickly and staying calm under pressure.
Beachgoers have been urged to show additional caution on the island (stock image)
Alejo Santiñaque, 20, was sitting on his surfboard waiting for a wave near Red Cliff, about 660km north of Sydney, when he suddenly felt a strong tug on his foot
‘Considering what could have happened, I was very lucky,’ he wrote.
‘The bite tore through skin and muscle, ruptured one tendon and damaged a few others, but it missed any major arteries.
‘Looking at how serious shark attacks can be, I know I got off lightly.’
