Perth seashores closed after 63-year-old swimmer killed in nice white shark assault

Beaches throughout Perth’s northern suburbs will stay closed till Sunday after a shark killed a swimmer in a deadly assault witnessed by onlookers, authorities stated on Saturday.

Western Australia’s fisheries minister took the “extraordinary” step to concern a catch-and-kill order for the shark that killed the swimmer on Friday at Sorrento Beach in Perth’s northern suburbs.

The 63-year-old man, whose physique has not been recovered but, was swimming very near shore when a big nice white shark pulled him beneath.

The incident occurred on Friday at 10.15am as dozens of beachgoers watched it unfold in shock.

Some of them described seeing the person pulled beneath repeatedly, with a pool of blood within the water.

His swimming companion made it again to shore distressed whereas lifesavers responded shortly however couldn’t find him.

Fisheries minister Jackie Jarvis stopped in need of ordering a widespread shark cull following the assault, saying such a measure wouldn’t be acceptable. Ms Jarvis stated she had taken the “very unusual” step of authorising the seize and killing of the shark after witnesses positively recognized it earlier than it swam away.

“In making that decision, I considered the exceptional circumstances of the attack, the hazard posed by the shark, and the potential recovery of coronial evidence,” Ms Jarvis stated.

Capture gear, primarily a kind of drum line usually used to tag sharks, was deployed on Friday in an effort to catch the untagged nice white, she stated.

The tools couldn’t be deployed on Saturday although, in accordance with experiences, due to unfavourable climate and uneven sea situations.

Ms Jarvis stated deploying extra drones to identify sharks alongside WA’s huge shoreline was “absolutely under consideration”.

It is believed to be the primary time in 10 years {that a} catch-and-kill order had been issued in Western Australia.

“White sharks are protected internationally,” Ms Jarvis stated, explaining why a widespread cull of white sharks was “not appropriate in these circumstances”.

“This is not the return to the idea that we would cull all apex predators in the ocean.

“I do not need to give individuals a false sense of safety. I can’t mitigate all dangers.”

Beaches along the 17km of coastline of Western ‌Australia will remain shit till Sunday.

Beaches in Perth’s City of Joondalup, from Marmion to Iluka, would remain closed until at least noon (0400 GMT) on ​Sunday, the state government said on Saturday.

“Officers from ​Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development will proceed to conduct ‌land-based patrols,” it said in an alert.

One of the witnesses told local WAtoday that she saw the man being “mauled” and the shark “tossed him round like a fish”.

“I’m a nurse, so I imply I clearly see a whole lot of ugly stuff, however to see any person being mauled to demise within the water in entrance of me is fairly onerous to clock,” she told WAtoday.

“I solely stay simply down the street, and I swim day-after-day. I imply, there is not any means I’m going to be getting in that water once more.”

A witness, Darrel Haythornthwaite, advised 7News that the person’s good friend was inconsolable after making it again to the shore. He stated he couldn’t consider the incident had occurred, “especially in a place like this”.

Emergency providers have additionally continued their seek for the person’s physique. The sufferer’s household arrived on the seaside, and locals additionally arrived to pay their respects with floral tributes on the website.

This is the third deadly shark assault in Western Australia in 2026. It additionally follows a non-fatal assault on a surfer close to Geraldton earlier within the week.

In June, a 35-year-old man was killed whereas spearfishing off the ⁠state’s ​south coast, and a 38-year-old ​man was mauled to demise off an island close to Perth in May.