A man has died after being attacked by a shark off Western Australia‘s coast on Saturday, police confirmed, marking the second fatal shark attack in Australia so far this year.
The 38-year-old victim was bitten on Saturday morning at Horseshoe Reef near Rottnest Island, about 31 km (19.2 miles) west of the state capital Perth.
The man, who is yet to be publicly identified, was taken to shore but could not be revived.
Police said a report will be prepared for the coroner.
State authorities advised people to take extra caution in the water at Rottnest Island, a popular tourist destination.
Aerial footage from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation showed a police boat, police officers, and a rescue helicopter with a stretcher at the scene.
The attack follows the death in January of a boy bitten by a shark in Sydney Harbour, after a series of shark attacks along the country’s east coast.
Most shark attacks occur along the east and southeast seaboard of Australia, which averages around 20 such incidents a year, according to Australia’s Institute of Health and Welfare.