Shark kills spearfisher in front of friends in Australia: "Terrifying thing to see"
CBS News • • general
Key Points:
- A 39-year-old man was fatally attacked by a shark while spearfishing with friends at Kennedy Shoal on the Great Barrier Reef, marking Australia's second deadly shark attack in just over a week.
- The victim sustained a critical head injury and died despite being quickly brought to shore and attended by paramedics; the species of shark involved remains unknown, though bull sharks have been spotted in the area.
- This incident follows the May 16 fatal attack on spearfisher Steve Mattabonni near Rottnest Island, where a 16-foot white shark was suspected.
- Australia has experienced three shark-related fatalities so far in 2026, including the January death of 12-year-old Nico Antic off Sydney, amid a rise in shark encounters attributed to crowded waters and warming ocean temperatures.
- Since 1791, Australia has recorded nearly 1,300 shark incidents, with over 260 resulting in death, highlighting ongoing concerns about shark-human interactions in coastal waters.