A 13ft great white shark has killed a man off the coast of one of Australia’s most popular tourist destinations.
A 38-year-old man was attacked at Horseshoe Reef, to the north-west of Rottnest Island near Perth, at about 10am local time on Saturday.
Surf Life WA said a large shark was sighted roughly 87 yards offshore around the time of the incident.
Footage from above showed the urgent rescue effort, with the man brought back to shore by boat as paramedics and police attempted CPR on the Geordie Bay Jetty.
He did not survive.
Western Australia Police released the following statement:
“About 9.55am on Saturday 16 May 2026, emergency services were advised of a possible shark attack off the coast of Rottnest Island.
“A 38-year-old man was in the water at Horseshoe Reef when he was believed to have been bitten by a shark.
“The man was conveyed by vessel to shore, where he was met by SJA WA paramedics.”
Western Australia’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development later confirmed the injuries were consistent with a great white shark, and advised people to take “additional caution” in nearby waters.
Authorities are now preparing a report for the coroner.
The death is the first fatal shark attack recorded in Western Australia since March last year, when a surfer was killed at a remote beach.
In response, multiple beaches around Rottnest Island have been closed, and officials have urged swimmers and divers to stay out of the water until further notice.
The incident comes amid heightened concern after several recent attacks in Australian waters.
Earlier this year, four shark attacks were reported along the New South Wales coastline in a two-day period, a spike that drew national attention.
One of the victims was 12-year-old Nico Antic, who was attacked in Sydney Harbour after jumping from rocks, in what was believed to be a bull shark incident. He died a week later, with his parents saying in a joint statement that they were “heartbroken.”
Australia records some of the highest shark-attack numbers globally. Since record-keeping began in 1791, there have been close to 1,300 reported incidents nationwide, with more than 260 fatalities. Great white sharks account for many of the deadly encounters and are known to patrol waters off Western Australia throughout the year.
Rottnest Island lies about 18 miles off the Perth coastline and is one of the state’s best-known holiday destinations, drawing more than 800,000 visitors annually. While it is famed for its quokkas — the small marsupials often photographed by tourists — the island is also a major spot for swimming, snorkelling and diving.