A man in his 60s died after being bitten by a shark while swimming off a Perth beach on Friday morning.
Emergency services were called to Sorrento Beach in Perth, Western Australia, at approximately 10:15am local time on September 18, after reports of a shark attack. The Western Australia Police Force confirmed they received word that a male swimmer had been bitten while swimming along the coast. An air and sea search involving helicopters and boats was launched immediately, but the man died from his injuries.
He was reportedly swimming around 50 metres offshore, according to 9 News Australia. No further details about his identity have been released.
Witness Jacqui Rapaic told Australian Broadcasting Corp that her friend had spotted something in the water, and when she turned, she saw “a pool of blood.”
Darrel Haythornthwaite, who spoke to Nine Network, said he believed the swimmer had been in the water with a friend at the time of the attack.
“I was just shocked. I mean, I feel for his mate. He’s apologized and said ‘I didn’t save my mate,'” Haythornthwaite recounted.
“I said, ‘You couldn’t have done anything.'”
Western Australia Premier Roger Cook addressed the tragedy in a social media post.
“This is a heartbreaking tragedy and my thoughts are with the victim’s family and loved ones, as well as the first responders who attended the scene,” Cook wrote.
Hillarys MP Caitlin Collins also posted about the incident, expressing concern for those affected and acknowledging emergency personnel.
“My thoughts are with the victim’s loved ones and everyone who witnessed or is affected by the situation,” she shared.
“I want to acknowledge the emergency services, police, surf lifesavers and other first responders who attended the scene and worked to respond to the incident. I have spoken with the minister and authorities are continuing to manage the situation.”
Collins added: “Sorrento Beach is a place so many of us love and an incident like this is incredibly difficult for everyone who spends time along our coastline.”
All beaches from Marmion to Iluka, covering nearly 12 kilometres of coastline, have been closed until at least Saturday afternoon, according to local council.
The death marks the fifth fatal shark attack off Australia’s coast this year, a sharp increase from the historical average. The Australian Shark Incident Database, maintained through a partnership including Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Flinders University and the New South Wales state government, shows Australia has averaged between two to three fatal shark attacks annually since 2000.
Earlier in January, a 12-year-old boy died in hospital days after being attacked by a bull shark off Sydney Harbor. Between May and June, three spearfishing divers were killed by sharks.
The Sorrento Beach attack is the second reported in Western Australia this week. On Monday, September 14, Geraldton firefighter Mel Ismail was bitten by a shark and remains in hospital in stable condition.