A US diver has been killed by a Great White shark, marking what is believed to be the second fatal shark attack in Western Australia within a span of 12 days.
The diver, aged 32 and unnamed, was diving solo off the coast of Rottnest Island, located near Perth, on Saturday.
Onlookers from his boat observed a significant amount of bubbles surfacing, followed closely by the diver’s body, which police indicated bore evident fatal injuries.
Two individuals aboard the boat characterized the shark as a 3-metre Great White.
Shark attacks are more prevalent during overcast conditions, and police noted that the day in question had been cloudy.
Authorities have not disclosed the diver’s name or hometown, but confirmed that he was residing in Australia on a work visa.
This tragic incident follows closely after the disappearance of Bryn Martin, a 64-year-old businessman, who was last seen 350m from the shore at Cottesloe Beach in Perth on 10 October.
His swimming trunks were subsequently located on the sea floor, exhibiting damage reported to be consistent with a shark attack.
Last month, a bodyboarder named Kyle Burden, aged 21, was fatally attacked near Bunker Bay, situated 260km south of Perth. Additionally, in August of the previous year, surfer Nicholas Edwards, aged 31, lost his life to a shark attack at a popular surf break in the nearby Gracetown.
While sharks are a common presence in Australian waters, attacks are considered uncommon; according to the Australian Shark Attack File, there have only been 53 fatalities in the last 50 years.
