A person has been killed by a shark while he was spearfishing in southwest Australia, marking the third deadly shark attack in three weeks.
The 35-year-old was using an old fishing method that involves diving with a pointy tool to catch fish when he was attacked by a shark that is assumed to have been 4.5 metres (15 ft) long.
The person, who has not been named, was diving along with his members of the family off an island near Perth called Michaelmas Island on Saturday morning.
It’s not clear what species the shark was, and a number of other different breeds and reach as much as the impressive size of 15 feet, including Great White Sharks.
Previously three weeks, three people died in separate shark attacks in Australia while spearfishing. 4 have died in total this 12 months. The primary was Nico Antic who was just 12 years old.
He was swimming along with his friends at Nielsen Park in Sydney when he was attacked by what’s considered a bull shark in January.
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Nico suffered serious injuries to each of his legs, and was only in a position to survive after the opposite children bravely dragged him out of the water and onto some nearby rocks. But he later died in hospital.
While shark encounters occur more continuously in Australian waters than in lots of parts of the world, deadly incidents remain relatively rare.
After the attack, the 35-year-old spearfisher was transported by boat back to Albany, where emergency medical personnel were waiting. Despite extensive efforts by paramedics, he couldn’t be saved.
Following the incident, sea rescue authorities temporarily closed access to Albany Marina while emergency operations were underway.
Western Australia Premier Roger Cook offered condolences to the victim’s family members and people affected by the tragedy.
LBC reported that he said: ‘I’m deeply saddened to listen to of this morning’s fatal shark attack in Albany.
‘This can be a tragedy and my thoughts are with the victim’s family and friends, in addition to the primary responders.
‘I do know members of the area people will wrap their arms around them, and I urge those that are impacted to succeed in out for support.’
Police said a report on the incident could be prepared for the coroner, based on local media reports.
Authorities have advised residents and visitors to exercise heightened caution around Michaelmas Island and to comply with any beach and waterway closures in the world.
Lower than two weeks ago, a 39-year-old man from Cairns was also mauled on the Great Barrier Reef while he was spearfishing with friends.
On May 16 at a coral reef off Rottnest Island, near the south-west coast of Western Australia, 38 12 months old Steve Mattabonni from Perth was killed by a 16ft white shark.
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