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Shot of Rottnest Island, where the attack occurred.

Great white shark kills diver off western Australia

An American diver has been killed in western Australia’s second fatal shark attack in 12 days.

AN AMERICAN DIVER has been killed in the second fatal shark attack off Western Australia state in 12 days.

A witness on a dive boat saw “a large amount of bubbles” before the 32-year-old man surfaced with obviously fatal injuries, Western Australia Police Sergeant Gerry Cassidy said.

Two people on the boat described the shark as a 3-meter great white, Cassidy said.

The shark struck 450 meters north of the picturesque tourist haven of Rottnest Island which is 18 kilometres from a popular Perth city mainland beach where a 64-year-old swimmer is believed to have been taken by a great white on October 10.

The American was living in Perth on a work visa. Police would not release his identity or hometown.

Authorities cannot say whether he was killed by the same shark that is believed to have taken Bryn Martin as he made his regular morning swim from Perth’s premier Cottesloe Beach toward a buoy about 350 meters offshore.

But analysis of Martin’s torn swimming trunks recovered from the seabed near the buoy pointed to a great white shark of the same size being the culprit. No other trace of Martin has been found.

“It’s a cloudy old day today which is the same as we had the other day with Cottesloe, and they’re the conditions that sharks love,” Cassidy said.

It is the fourth fatal shark attack off Western Australia in 14 months.

Great whites can grow to more than 6 meters long and weigh up to 2,300 kilos. They are protected in Australia, a primary location for the species.

More: British man loses legs in South Africa shark attack>

Top 8… countries for shark attacks>

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4 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Debi-Nikita Rathbone-Rentzke
    Favourite Debi-Nikita Rathbone-Rentzke
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    Oct 22nd 2011, 3:03 PM

    I love the ocean and the enigma it holds… But that is far in as I will go :)

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    Mute Sue Anthony
    Favourite Sue Anthony
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    Oct 22nd 2011, 5:12 PM

    “It’s a cloudy old day today which is the same as we had the other day with Cottesloe, and they’re the conditions that sharks love,” Cassidy said.

    And all this information and more is in the safety swimming guide.

    Would you walk through an area where you know Lions live ?

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    Mute brettser
    Favourite brettser
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    Oct 22nd 2011, 5:50 PM

    Very sad news to hear such a young man being killed. But in reality the chances of being killed by a shark is slim. People need to heed the warnings and a take sensible approach to water sports rather than avoiding it altogether.

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    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ciaran O'Hare
    Favourite Ciaran O'Hare
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    Oct 22nd 2011, 6:23 PM

    Eh it’s shark season here in WA. Those who died knew the risks. RIP.

    11
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