Additional Coverage:
- Fisherman killed by 4.5-meter shark during family outing as attacks spike for first time in decades (themirror.com)
A 35-year-old spearfisher tragically lost his life on Saturday in Western Australia, marking the third fatal shark attack in the country within just four weeks, police reported. The incident occurred off Michaelmas Island near Albany, where the man was spearfishing with family members before noon.
Emergency responders transported the victim by boat to Albany, where paramedics attempted resuscitation, but unfortunately, he could not be saved. Authorities believe a 4.5-meter (15-foot) great white shark was responsible for the attack.
This recent cluster of fatalities is unusual for Australia, which typically sees about three shark-related deaths annually. The previous fatal attack happened on May 24, when 39-year-old spearfisher Michael Jensz suffered fatal head injuries on the Great Barrier Reef. Bull sharks had been observed nearby at the time.
Just a week earlier, on May 16, 38-year-old spearfisher Steve Mattabonni was fatally attacked by a four-meter (13-foot) great white shark northwest of Albany near Rottnest Island. The only other fatal shark incident in Australia this year took place in January, when a 12-year-old boy succumbed to injuries days after a bull shark attack in Sydney Harbor.
Meanwhile, on the U.S. East Coast, reports of a large great white shark near popular beaches in Maine prompted local authorities to issue warnings. The shark, estimated to be 10 to 12 feet long, was spotted close to Crescent Beach State Park, Higgins Beach, and Pine Point Beach-areas within a short drive from Portland.
Local commercial clam fisherman David Lancaster captured drone footage of the shark swimming just below the surface, its fin visible above the gentle waves. Lancaster described the sighting as “magnificent,” though unexpected.
“It was pretty crazy to see in the local waters. There are some really amazing creatures in the sea,” he said.
“It’s in the back of your head, but you have to accept it.”