Update after ‘horrific’ shark attack kills man, 38, off popular Aussie island
Experienced spearfishermen fought alongside paramedics and police to save their friend after he was bitten by a large great white shark off the West Australian coast.
The 38-year-old spearfisherman was killed by a reportedly four- or five-metre great white shark near Rottnest Island on Saturday.
Images captured by news helicopters showed the man’s friends consoling each other on the deck of a police boat as officers tried to comfort the men as well.
“His friends have actually witnessed the horrific event,” Sergeant Michael Wear, the officer in charge of Rottnest Island, said.
“The friends of the victim retrieved his body from the water, they gave him CPR on the way back in and came straight into the Geordie Bay jetty,” Wear told reporters on Saturday.
The group were experienced fishermen, Wear said. The friends had taken two boats out for the day and performed CPR on the 38-year-old as the boats raced back to the nearest jetty, where paramedics and a rescue helicopter were waiting.
“[Police] air wing rode over the top and they actually dropped an officer off from the chopper on shore to give us a hand,” Wear said.
“It was an all-agencies effort to get everyone involved in the best way we could possibly do for the victim.”
The 38-year-old victim lived in Perth’s northern suburbs.
The attack happened at around 10am about 1km off the northwest tip of the hugely popular tourist island, which itself is 18km west of the West Australian coastline.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development said the great white shark was about 4m long, but Surf Life Saving West Australia said a 5m great white was spotted in the same area later on Saturday.
Wear said the man was on the surface of the water spearfishing 20m from his boat and about 1km offshore when the shark emerged.
“The injuries are quite horrific and with respect to the family, we won’t go any further today,” he said.
“Obviously, a very confronting scene. Certainly quite horrific scenes for all involved and all the emergency services that were there did a fantastic job.”
A rescue helicopter was sent to the scene, but the injured man was unable to be revived by paramedics.
Witness Jarrad Young was visiting Rottnest for a wedding.
“It was really confronting, I think everyone was hoping he was okay but it didn’t look too good in the end, which is unfortunate,” Young said.
“Obviously it is a bit of a sad day, no one really wants to see that on the island. Everyone just wants to come and enjoy the beaches and the ocean.”
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development has urged those on Rottnest Island to take extra care in the water.
The attack has sent shock waves through the community, with West Australia Premier Roger Cook among those reacting to the horror, which he described as “deeply distressing”.
“It is a devastating time for all involved,” Cook said.
“This is a tragedy that will be felt by all Western Australians.”
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