Devoted Father and Grandfather-to-Be Killed in Suspected Shark Attack at Australian Beach

A "devoted" father and grandfather-to-be was killed in a suspected shark attack while swimming at Sorrento Beach in Perth, Western Australia, on Friday.

Greg O'Neill, 63, was in the water when the attack occurred in front of other beachgoers. "I couldn’t believe there was that much blood (that had) come out of a human body," Ryan Rowe, a resident who arrived at the scene soon after, told The West Australian newspaper.

In response to the incident, Western Australia's fisheries minister, Jackie Jarvis, made the unusual decision to order the catch-and-kill of the great white shark believed to be responsible. "In making that decision, I considered the exceptional circumstances of the attack, the hazard posed by the shark, and the potential recovery of coronial evidence," Jarvis stated.

Police have not confirmed if O'Neill's remains have been recovered but expressed confidence that the swimmer died as a result of the attack. Witnesses reported O'Neill was swimming with a friend when the attack happened. "I was just shocked. I mean, I feel for his mate," witness Darrel Haythornthwaite said. "He's apologized and said 'I didn't save my mate’ … I said, 'You couldn't have done anything.'"

O'Neill's family released a statement expressing their devastation. "He was a generous, devoted family man that gave his children so much love, care and opportunity. Greg loved the ocean and was known as a passionate swimmer, sports lover, dedicated worker and an all round generous, witty guy," the family said. "The kind thoughts and support from everyone who has reached out are deeply appreciated."

This incident marks the fifth fatal shark attack in Australia this year. Previously, three spearfishing divers were killed in separate attacks between May and June, and a 12-year-old boy died in Sydney Harbor in January. Just days before O'Neill's death, a surfer sustained a serious leg injury in a shark attack approximately 250 miles north of Perth.