A shark will be ‘destroyed’ after it attacked and killed a swimmer, 63, on Friday as police continue to hunt for its victim’s body.
Emergency services raced to Sorrento beach, in the northern suburbs of Perth, Western Australia (WA), at 10:15am local time on Friday (September 18). The shark attacked two swimmers around 15 metres from the shore and ‘mauled’ one who has not been since.
Police have now confirmed they believe the missing man has died. A WA Police spokesperson told the Daily Mail: “The 63-year-old male swimmer has not been located. Police conducted a search of the shoreline this morning (Saturday).
“A WA Police Force Water Police vessel will remain in the area today, weather permitting. Beaches in the area remain closed.”
It’s thought the man was a member of a local surfing club and was with a friend when they were attacked. An eyewitness recalled the horrific Friday morning scene.
“I was sitting here looking out the ocean and saw a splash, and then a guy came and saw me and said, ‘Shark, shark’,” Darrel, told 9News.
“I feel for his mate, he’s apologising, he said, ‘I couldn’t save my mate’. I said, ‘You couldn’t have done anything.’ I don’t really know how to put it into words, it’s just a shocking thing.”
The WA government has now issued an order to destroy the shark responsible. Shark experts have been called in to track down the offending animal, with aircraft from the Police Air Wing, and vessels from WA Water Police and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) from the state government deployed.
A great white shark has been spotted in the vicinity of the attack from aeroplanes circling the beach, but it is not known if that is the animal which killed the swimmer.
