The species of shark has not yet been confirmed. Photo: Oleksandr Sushko//Unsplash
A spearfishing excursion became deadly when a man encountered a shark on the Great Barrier Reef. This marks the second fatal Australian shark encounter in just over a week.
The 39-year-old victim was spearfishing with three other fisherman when the attack occurred, as the AP reports. Police Inspector Elaine Burns elaborated to reporters that the cause of death was a “critical head injury.”
The victim was brought by boat to the nearby town of Hull Heads in northern Queensland. Though paramedics were waiting, they were unable to save his life. An ambulance service statement described his injuries as “not compatible with life.”
The species of shark has not been officially reported, but local fisherman reported seeing bull sharks in the area shortly before the attack.
This encounter comes hot on the heels of another fatal mauling. On May 16, Steven Mattaboni was also spearfishing, this time at a coral reef off the coast of Rottnest Island, near Perth. Perth’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development reported the culprit was a 13-foot great white shark.
