A diver has tragically died after he was bitten by a shark in Australia while fishing with his family.
The 35-year-old man was attacked by a suspected 4.5m shark just before 11.30am on Saturday at Michaelmas Island off Albany, Western Australia.
He was rushed by boat to the Albany marina, around eight miles away, where he was treated by paramedics but couldn’t be saved.
Police confirmed that the man had died following the attack while he was spearfishing with family off the island.
Authorities have warned people to take additional caution in the Michaelmas Island area, and to follow any beach closures advised by local park rangers or surf life savers.
A fisherman told of seeing emergency services swarming the car park at the marina when he arrived at midday and someone being taken away in an ambulance.
“We arrived just before 12pm and it wasn’t quite shut yet, I think it had all kind of just happened,” he told The West Australian. “We saw someone get taken away in an ambulance, and then pretty much just shut the boat ramp for anyone who wants to put the boat in the water.
“There were a fair few people wanting to get their boats in, and they did end up opening that lane to that people would take their boats out of the water, but we’ve just been waiting around since then.”
While other residents told of their shock and said that it is not normal to see sharks off the coast of that area of Australia.
Albany residents Archie and Julian Smith were out fishing for whiting in the same area where the attack occurred.
“It’s pretty scary, pretty shocking, and sad,” Archie Smith told the outlet. He was out in the same area fishing for whiting when the attack happened.
“We do a lot of fishing in Albany, never really see any [sharks]. We’ve only just caught a few small ones here and there, but nothing big or anything like that, no great whites. Obviously, it’s never good but it just shows that there’s always sharks around and it’s a big reminder to be careful.”
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Western Austalia Premier Roger Cook reportedly said he was “deeply saddened to hear of this morning’s fatal shark attack”. He added: “This is a tragedy and my thoughts are with the victim’s family and friends, as well as the first responders.”