A shark attacked a male swimmer at Sorrento Beach, north of Perth, Australia, resulting in one death. Authorities have closed the beach while officials conduct searches and investigations, and have warned the public to avoid the area.
A male swimmer was fatally attacked by a shark at Sorrento Beach, north of Perth in Western Australia, Australia, early this morning (18 Sep), according to local police confirmation.
Western Australia's St John Ambulance emergency services received a report at 10:15 a.m. local time of a shark attack at sea. Police confirmed the male swimmer died from the attack but have not released further details about the victim or the incident.
An eyewitness said they saw a large amount of blood in the water after the incident. A woman told ABC Television that she was walking on the beach with a friend when her friend warned of a possible shark attack. Looking out to sea, she saw a pool of blood. She believes two men were swimming, but only one made it back to shore. She described the event as quick and deeply distressing.
Another witness, Russell James, said he was in the area when the shark warning sounded. He saw police, ambulances, and many people gathered near the water close to the wave-breaking jetty, and noticed surfboards or paddleboards on the beach.
Following the incident, authorities have closed beaches from Marmion to Iluka at least until noon on Saturday, 19 September, and urged the public to avoid the area. Additionally, the City of Joondalup has closed Hillarys, Whitfords, and Mullaloo beaches, according to the Western Australian government's SharkSmart website.
Reports from the public indicate a shark approximately 2.5 meters long was seen near the shore around the time of the attack, while police continue to patrol the coastline.
Sorrento Beach is a popular swimming spot located about 20 kilometers from Perth's central business district, south of Hillarys Boat Harbour, which is known for its many restaurants and cafes.
Previously, parts of Sorrento Beach had shark nets installed, but these were removed in 2020. Currently, Western Australia has shark nets at Cottesloe, Coogee, and Queens Beach in Wanneroo, and Bathers Beach in Fremantle. Some nets are seasonal and are set up starting in October.
This is the second shark attack in Western Australia within the same week. Earlier on Monday, Mel Ismail, a firefighter from Geraldton, was bitten by a shark and remains hospitalized in stable condition.
The shark attack occurred just one week after Surf Life Saving WA began weekend helicopter patrols to spot sharks in preparation for summer, with daily patrols scheduled to start on 26 September.
Data shows this fatality is the 24th shark attack death in Western Australia since 2000, with 10 occurring in the Perth metropolitan area, including three fatalities this year.
Earlier in May, spear fisherman Steven Mattaboni died after a shark attack off Rottnest Island, and a few weeks later, another spear fisherman, Daniel Turpin, died from a shark attack near Albany.
Australia has experienced several shark attacks in the past year, including a 12-year-old boy attacked in Sydney in January. Authorities are urging the public to avoid swimming in closed areas and to closely follow official warnings, while investigations and searches continue.