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Fatal Shark Attack in Western Australia: A Tragic Incident

A 38-year-old man loses his life to a 13ft great white shark at Horseshoe Reef near Rottnest Island, sparking a renewed warning for beachgoers.

Source: bbc.co.uk1 min read
Fatal Shark Attack in Western Australia: A Tragic Incident
Image via bbc.co.uk

In brief

A 38-year-old man was fatally attacked by a 13ft great white shark while swimming at Horseshoe Reef, north-west of Rottnest Island in Western Australia. Despite immediate medical assistance, he did not survive the injuries. This incident, the first shark-related death in the state since March 2022, has prompted authorities to issue cautionary messages for the public about potential dangers in local waters.

A 38-year-old man has been killed by a 13ft (4m) great white shark in Western Australia.

On Saturday, the man was bitten just before 10:00 (03:00 BST) at Horseshoe Reef - north-west of the popular Rottnest Island near the city of Perth, local police said.

Aerial footage showed the man being rushed to shore by boat where paramedics and police performed CPR at the Geordie Bay jetty, local media ABC reported.

Sadly the man was unable to be revived, a police spokesperson said.

The state's Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development told AFP news agency it received a report the man was bitten by the great white.

The department urged the public to take additional caution in waters around the area.

The attack is the first fatal incident in Western Australia since March last year, when a surfer was mauled off a remote beach.

Since records began in 1791, there have been almost 1,300 recorded shark attacks in Australia, with more than 260 of them resulting in death.

Earlier this year in January, four shark attacks were reported along the New South Wales coast over two days.

One of the victims included 12-year-old Nico Antic, who jumped from a rock into the Sydney Harbour and was attacked by a suspected bull shark.

He died a week later, with his parents saying in a joint statement they were heartbroken.

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