UMVA has learned that a tragic shark attack has claimed the life of a 39-year-old man while spearfishing with friends at the Great Barrier Reef on Saturday.
The victim, a resident of Mount Sheridan, Australia, was diving from a boat with three companions at Kennedy Shoal, approximately 160 km south of Cairns, when the fatal attack occurred just after 12 p.m.
A witness who pulled the victim from the water described the scene as horrific, saying he was "pretty close" to the incident and witnessed the attack unfold.
Despite efforts to save him, the victim sustained injuries that were not compatible with life, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police Inspector Elaine Burns revealed that the man had been spearfishing when he was attacked, resulting in a critical head injury that proved fatal.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, with authorities and locals alike expressing concern over the recent surge in shark attacks.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that this is the second deadly shark attack in Australia in just over a week, with another spearfisher losing his life at a coral reef off Rottnest Island near the southwest coast of Western Australia on May 16.
The victim in that incident, a 38-year-old Perth man, was attacked by a suspected 16-foot white shark while with friends.
In recent months, there have been several high-profile shark attacks in Australian waters, including a spate of four attacks within a 48-hour span along New South Wales beaches.
One boy, just 12 years old, died in hospital days after being severely wounded in one of those attacks.
The species of shark involved in Saturday's attack remains unknown, but there have been sightings of bull sharks in the area, which are known to be vicious and unpredictable.
A charter boat captain reported seeing a large number of bull sharks in the area, describing them as "vicious, unpredictable" and a potential threat to anyone in the water.
While shark attacks in the area of Kennedy Shoal are rare, locals acknowledge that bull sharks and target sharks do exist there, and are competing with fishermen for prey.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers that lurk in Australian waters, and the importance of taking precautions when engaging in water activities.
