Man Spearfishing With Friends Is Killed by Shark

A spearfishing trip off Western Australia's Rottnest Island ended in tragedy Saturday morning when a 38-year-old man was fatally bitten by a shark. Police say the man, whom the BBC identifies as Steven Mattaboni, was on the surface of the water at Horseshoe Reef when the shark bit his lower legs. He was roughly 65 feet from his boat at the time. His friends pulled him from the water and performed CPR as they rushed to Geordie Bay jetty, where paramedics and police continued efforts to revive him, but Australia's ABC reports Mattaboni died at the scene. He leaves behind a wife and two daughters, ages 2 and 4 months.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development says it was told the man was bitten by a 13-foot shark; the AP reports lifeguards had noted a 16-foot shark in the area prior to the attack. 9News reports authorities suspect Mattaboni was killed by a great white. It was the first fatal shark attack in the Rottnest area since 2011, when a 32-year-old diver was killed. This marks the second fatal shark attack in Australia in 2026; a 12-year-old boy died days after a January bull shark attack in Sydney Harbor. Rottnest, a major tourist draw near Perth, is known for its white beaches, clear water, and marine life.