[ "A tragic incident off the Cassowary Coast off Queensland’s north‑eastern coastline claimed the life of a 39‑year‑old spearfisher on Sunday afternoon. Police say the man was attacked by a shark while working near an offshore reef, retrieved from the water, but later died of a head injury that could not be reversed.", "", "Emergency services were called to a boat ramp between Cairns and Townsville just before noon. Responders found the man in the water, attended to him, and then transported him ashore, where he was pronounced dead about an hour later. Police Inspector Elaine Burns told reporters that the victim, along with three other occupants of a private vessel, had been in the water at Kennedy Shoal, a shallow reef roughly 45 km (28 miles) off the Queensland coast, and that the attack had caused ‘critical head injury’ leading to immeasurable loss.", "", "Queensland Police are preparing a ‘sudden and non‑suspicious’ coroner’s report, a process that will outline the cause of death and any contributing factors. The victim’s identity has not yet been released.", "", "This incident marks the second fatal shark attack reported in Australian waters in just under a month. In February, a 38‑year‑old spearfisher was killed off Perth after being bitten on the lower legs. Such fatal encounters are relatively rare, with the Australian Shark‑Incident Database recording four shark encounters in January, only one of which was fatal.", "", "While the overall risk posed by sharks in Australian waters remains higher than in many parts of the world, fatalities are uncommon. Popular beach and surf sites typically have protective measures to reduce the likelihood of dangerous interactions. In the wake of this tragedy, authorities are urging all fishermen and recreational divers to exercise caution, especially near reefs." ]