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A man has died after he was bitten by a suspected 4.5-metre shark off the coast of Albany in Western Australia’s south.
Police said the 35-year-old had been spearfishing with family off Michaelmas Island when he was attacked before 11.20am (1.20pm AEST) today.
A man has died after he was bitten by a shark off the coast of Albany in Western Australia’s south 9News
He was taken back to shore by boat where he was met with St John Ambulance WA paramedics.
The man, who has not been formally identified, was unable to be revived.
Police will prepare a report for the coroner.
Hours earlier at about midnight, a tagged Great White set off a receiver in Frenchman Bay near to where the spearfisherman was killed.
There’s no indication as yet if this was the same shark that delivered the fatal blow to the fisherman.
The incident was reported to the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD).
Residents have been told to take additional caution in the Michaelmas Island area following the shark attack and adhere to local beach closures.
WA Premier Roger Cook said he felt “deeply saddened” by the death.
“This is a tragedy and my thoughts are with the victim’s family and friends, as well as the first responders,” Cook said in a statement.
“I know members of the local community will wrap their arms around them, and I urge those who are impacted to reach out for support.”
The incident comes several weeks after another fatal shark attack off WA’s coast.
Steven Mattaboni died after he was attacked while spearfishing near Horseshoe Reef, about one kilometre off the coast of the island near Perth.
The 38-year-old had been in the water with friends when he was bitten on both legs by what authorities believe was a great white shark.
Last month another man, 39-year-old Michael Jensz, was killed by a shark off the coast of Far North Queensland.
There have been several shark attacks reported in Australia this year.
Andre de Ruyter, 27, was one of several victims attacked by sharks over the course of 48 hours in NSW in January.
He lost a leg in the attack on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
Nico Antic was first to be attacked by a suspected bull shark after jumping off rocks at Neilson Park, near Shark Beach, in Vaucluse on January 18.
The 12-year-old junior lifesaver later died in hospital.
Days later, 39-year-old Paul Zvirzdinas received minor injuries after his board and wetsuit were bitten by a shark at Point Plomer near Port Macquarie.
An 11-year-old boy also had a lucky escape at Dee Why Beach after a shark bit his board but otherwise left him unscathed.
The attacks were attributed to previous wild weather considered a “once-in-a-500-year event”, which created the perfect environment for bull sharks to lurk in coastal waters around Sydney and wider NSW.
Back in April 16-year-old surfer Oliver Tokic-Bensley had a close call with a shark in South Australia.
He told 9News he was surfing by himself in murky water off the tourist town of Middleton when the shark “grabbed” his foot and knocked him off his board.
He was about 100 metres offshore and frantically paddled back to land.
Back in March, a man was bitten by a shark while snorkelling around the Great Barrier Reef.
He and two other men were swimming from a private vessel on the western side of Lady Elliot Island in Queensland when the attack took place about 8am.
He was bitten on the elbow and helped to shore by the other two men.
Australia recorded the world’s highest total of fatal shark attacks on humans last year, with more great whites gathering in waters popular with surfers, research released earlier this year found.
The International Shark Attack File released in February confirmed there were 12 fatalities (nine of which were classified unprovoked) worldwide, with Australia accounting for five.
Other countries to record deaths last year included the US, Mozambique, South Africa and Vanuatu.
The global total of 12 fatalities was up from the previous year’s seven.
There were 65 confirmed unprovoked attacks globally, a jump from the 47 in 2024 and above the five-year average of 61.
Last year, US waters had the most incidents at 25, with 11 off the coast of Florida.
Australia was in second spot recording 21 unprovoked attacks.
Researchers from the University of Florida who drew up the report noted an increase in fatalities from great whites.
Bigger numbers of the species at “aggregation sites”, beaches favoured by surfers, especially in Australia, may be behind this, they suggested.
The Australian coastline is also home to the bull and tiger sharks, which along with great whites make up the “big three” predators.
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