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Family witness spearfisher fatally mauled by great white shark | 9 News Australia
Posted
June 6, 2026
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June 6, 2026
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5:46Now PlayingTragedy has struck the tight-knit coastal town of Albany, Western Australia, following a fatal encounter with a suspected 4.5-metre Great White shark. A 35-year-old local man was spearfishing with family members just 10 metres off Michaelmas Island when he was critically mauled by the apex predator. Despite a rapid emergency response, the victim succumbed to his severe injuries whilst being rushed via a 13-kilometre boat journey to the Albany Marina.
Reporting live from Albany, Today show reporter Jenny Schon details how the emergency response unfolded around 11:20 AM, leaving the regional community reeling. Local witness Mikayla Archbold noted the profound impact of the tragedy, emphasizing that in a close community where everyone knows each other, a loss like this affects everyone. Shockingly, the incident occurred just hours after a tagged Great White shark triggered a satellite monitoring receiver nearby at Frenchman Bay.
To break down this alarming trend, Today hosts speak live with Bond University shark expert Associate Professor Daryl McPhee. This heartbreaking event marks Australia’s fourth fatal shark attack of 2026 and the third involving a spearfisher in just four weeks. It follows the recent deaths of Steve Mattabonni at Rottnest Island's Horseshoe Reef, and Michael Jensz on the Great Barrier Reef.
Professor McPhee highlights that spearfishing carries an inherently higher risk profile compared to standard surfing or swimming due to the constant presence of bleeding or distressed fish, which acts as a powerful sensory stimulus for large sharks. While data shows a clear surge from historical averages, McPhee outlines vital safety protocols for ocean userssuch as avoiding murky waters and steering clear of baitfish aggregations like pilchards, sea mullet, and salmon. | *Subscribe and 🔔
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