Man Killed in Suspected Shark Attack at Popular Australian Beach
Greg O'Neill, 63, was swimming at Sorrento Beach when the fatal incident occurred, prompting authorities to issue a rare catch-and-kill order for a great white shark.
A devoted father and grandfather-to-be was killed in a suspected shark attack while swimming at a popular beach in Western Australia.
Greg O'Neill, 63, was in the water at Sorrento Beach in Perth on Friday when the attack occurred in front of other beachgoers. Police have stated they are confident the swimmer died as a result of the attack, though they have not confirmed if his remains have been recovered.
The incident has prompted Western Australia's fisheries minister, Jackie Jarvis, to issue a rare directive for the catch-and-kill of the great white shark involved. "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 said.
Witnesses described the scene as shocking. Darrel Haythornthwaite told Nine Network television that O'Neill was swimming with a friend who expressed distress, saying he could not have saved his friend.
O'Neill's family released a statement describing him as a "generous, devoted family man" who "loved the ocean and was known as a passionate swimmer, sports lover, dedicated worker and an all round generous, witty guy." They expressed deep shock and devastation at the "terrible tragedy."
This marks the fifth fatal shark attack in Australian waters this year. In January, a 12-year-old boy was killed in Sydney Harbor. Between May and June, three spearfishing divers lost their lives in separate incidents. A surfer also sustained serious injuries in a shark attack on Monday, approximately 250 miles north of Perth.