A male diver has died after he was bitten by a suspected 4.5-metre shark off the southern West Australian coast, WA police have confirmed.
The 35-year-old man was taken by boat to shore after emergency services responded to reports of a shark attack at 11:25am, local time, on Saturday.
The man was spearfishing with family off Michaelmas Island, near Albany, when he was attacked, according to police.
WA police say the diver was spearfishing with family off Michaelmas Island. (ABC News: Andrew Chounding)
“He was conveyed back to shore by boat where he was met by SJA [St John Ambulance] WA paramedics,” WA police said in a statement.
“Sadly, he was unable to be revived.
Albany police are collecting evidence at the scene for investigation. (ABC News: Andrew Chounding)
“WA Police will prepare a report for the coroner.”
Albany local Grant Cavanagh said he was surprised to hear about the attack.
“Because we don’t really get that many shark attacks down here,” he said.
“That’s the first one that I know of that’s been bitten by a shark.”
Albany local Grant Cavanagh says the attack is surprising. (ABC News: Andrew Chounding)
But Mr Cavanagh said he did not believe it would scare people out of the water.
“Just like motor cars, someone gets killed in a car accident, you don’t stop driving. Same principle,” he said.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) said it was assisting WA Police and local authorities with the serious shark incident.
Michaelmas Island is about 13 kilometres from the nearest stretch of Albany coastline and about a 5-hour drive from Perth.
DPIRD has urged people in the area to report to Water Police on 9442 8600 if they see a shark.
Second fatal shark attack in past four weeks
This is the second fatal shark attack in WA in the past four weeks.
A ramp closure sign is up at the scene of Saturday’s incident. (ABC News: Andrew Chounding)
On May 16, a 38-year-old Perth man, Steven Mattaboni, was killed in a shark attack when he was spearfishing with three friends off Rottnest Island.
Mr Mattaboni was bitten on the legs by a 4-metre shark just before 10am that day at Horseshoe Reef.
