Great White Shark Attacks And Kills Diver: Search still on for body

A massive search operation was launched on Sunday after a man who was diving off the Australian coast was reported to have died following an encounter with a white shark.

Investigators said the incident took place close to Cull Island near West Beach in the Shire of Esperance, a region of Western Australia. Reports first surfaced at about 1 p.m., with initial information suggesting the victim was on a boat with a woman prior to the attack.

The man is reported to have been fatally injured after being bitten by a white shark,” officials said. The victim was likely diving at the time”.

Australian Police said in a statement: “Esperance Police and Marine Rescue WA volunteers deployed to the area on board the marine rescue vessels. They are still searching the ocean for the victim.

“A woman who was on board the boat at the time of the incident has been returned to shore, and has been taken by St John Ambulance to hospital.”

The fatal attack, the first in Australia this year, is the second in the area in less than three years.

A 17-year-old girl was mauled by a shark in full view of her parents near Wylie Bay in 2017. She lost her leg and was pulled from the water, but died shortly after.

In 2014, a young surfer lost parts of both arms after being attacked by a great white, also off Esperance.

Australia has one of the world’s highest incidences of shark attacks, but fatalities remain rare.

There were 27 maulings but no fatalities off Australia last year, according to data from Sydney’s Taronga Zoo.