The search for a man killed in a fatal shark attack at Sorrento Beach in Perth will resume at first light on Saturday, after he was attacked while swimming with a friend about 15 metres from shore.
The man, who was in his 60s, was mauled by a great white shark measuring about 6 metres long at approximately 10.30am on Friday. He was confirmed dead at around 3pm, but his remains have not been found.
Dozens of people were on the popular beach when the attack took place, with witnesses describing how the shark tossed the swimmer into the air before dragging him into deeper water.
Ingrid Michell said the man was pulled away “at a rate of knots”. She added: “To see somebody being mauled to death in the water in front of you is hard. There’s no way I’m going to be getting in that water again.”
Another witness, Darrel Haythornthwaite, said the attack “happened so fast” and “was like a scene off Jaws”. He said he “just can’t believe it”, particularly “in a place like this”.
Search for Sorrento Beach shark attack victim to resume
Western Australia Police officers patrolled the beach after the attack, while a police helicopter and boat searched the water for the missing man.
Authorities are also understood to be planning to destroy the shark believed to have been responsible. Locals have said sharks had been seen circling in nearby waters in recent weeks, prompting questions about whether enough had been done to prevent the attack.
The death came days after 56-year-old surfer Mel Ismail was mauled at Glenfield Beach in Geraldton, about 420 kilometres north of Perth. He was dragged from the water by a stranger and taken to hospital with extensive injuries to his right leg, which was amputated below the shin.
