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Tragic Shark Attack Claims Life of Man in Western Australia

A 38-year-old man was fatally attacked by a 13-foot great white shark off the coast of Rottnest Island, Western Australia, in a tragic event that has raised concerns over safety in local waters.

Source: bbc.co.uk1 min read
Tragic Shark Attack Claims Life of Man in Western Australia
Image via bbc.co.uk

In brief

In a shocking incident off Western Australia, a 38-year-old man was killed by a 13-foot great white shark near Horseshoe Reef, not far from Rottnest Island. The attack took place while the man was in the water, and rescue efforts were unable to revive him. Authorities are urging caution in the area, marking the first fatal shark attack in the region since last year.

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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