Police are continuing to search for a 63-year-old swimmer who disappeared after a suspected fatal shark attack off Sorrento Beach in Perth, while beaches along the coast have been closed as a precaution.
The man was swimming about 50 metres offshore near a groyne beside Sorrento Surf Club shortly after 10am on Friday when witnesses reported seeing him pulled beneath the surface several times.
He had been swimming with another man, who witnessed the attack. Lifesavers went into the water but were unable to find the swimmer, and a witness reported seeing blood on the surface.
Emergency services received the first call at about 10.15am, around the same time a large shark was reported in the area. Three St John WA ambulances were sent to the beach before being stood down.
A police boat and helicopter, a Surf Life Saving helicopter and a Fisheries vessel searched near the shore for about an hour before extending the operation further out to sea. The shark was reportedly seen several times west of Hillarys Boat Harbour shortly after 1pm, and authorities tracked its movements.
An official SharkSmart report estimated the shark was about five metres long and west of the Boyinaboat reef break. Witnesses described it as potentially reaching six metres, but its species and size have not been confirmed.
Beaches closed after Sorrento shark attack
On Saturday morning, WA Police said the swimmer had still not been located after officers searched the shoreline. A Water Police vessel was due to remain in the area during the day.
The City of Joondalup closed beaches from Burns Beach to Marmion and deployed city safety officers. The City of Wanneroo also closed its beaches until midday on Saturday.
Forensic police and specialist detectives attended the scene, taping off part of the car park and the stairs leading to the groyne. Fisheries will investigate the incident.
One witness, who said she was a nurse, described seeing the attack as confronting. “I’m a nurse, so I mean I obviously see a lot of gruesome stuff, but to see somebody being [attacked] in front of me is pretty hard to clock,” she said.
“I only live just down the road, and I swim every day. I mean, there’s no way I’m going to be getting in that water again.”
Opposition fisheries spokeswoman Kirrilee Warr offered her condolences to the swimmer’s family, friends, first responders and the Sorrento community.
The incident occurred days after a surfer was attacked in Geraldton. It also comes after a shark net previously installed at Sorrento Beach deteriorated and was removed in 2020 without being replaced.
