Greg O’Neill recognized as deadly shark assault sufferer at Perth’s Sorrento Beach

The sufferer of a deadly shark assault in Western Australia has been named as Greg O’Neill, together with his household describing him as a faithful household man and ocean lover.

The 63-year-old was swimming near the Sorrento Beach shoreline in Perth’s northern suburbs yesterday morning when he was attacked by a big nice white.

“Our family is deeply shocked and devastated by the terrible tragedy that took the life of father, grandfather-to-be, brother, uncle, husband and friend, Greg James O’Neill,” his household mentioned in a press release.

“He was a generous, devoted family man that gave his children so much love, care and opportunity. Greg loved the ocean and was known as a passionate swimmer, sports lover, dedicated worker and an all round generous, witty guy.

“The form ideas and assist from everybody who has reached out are deeply appreciated.”

Catch-and-kill order

Western Australia’s fisheries minister Jackie Jarvis has taken the “extraordinary” step of issuing a catch-and-kill order for the shark, which killed Mr O’Neill in front of shocked onlookers. 

However, she stopped in need of ordering a widespread shark cull within the wake of the assault, saying it might not be applicable.

Beaches across Perth’s northern suburbs remain closed today as the search continued for the shark, and Mr O’Neill’s body. 

Mr O’Neill’s grief-stricken household visited the seaside earlier at present, as locals paid their respects with floral tributes on the website.

His death was the third fatal shark attack in Western Australia this year — and the second this week — and has reignited debate about how to keep beachgoers safe.

Ms Jarvis said she took the “very uncommon” step of authorising the seize and killing of the shark after it was positively recognized by Water Police earlier than it swam away. 

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She said capture gear, which is essentially a type of drum line that is normally used to tag sharks, was deployed on Friday in an effort to catch the untagged great white.

The gear couldn’t be arrange at present, nonetheless, resulting from unfavourable climate circumstances and uneven waters.

Shark cull ‘not applicable’

Ms Jarvis believed it was the first time in 10 years that a catch-and-kill order had been issued in WA, but said a widespread cull of white sharks was “not applicable in these circumstances”.

“White sharks are protected internationally,” Ms Jarvis mentioned.

“I don’t want to give people a false sense of security. I cannot mitigate all risks.”

More drones, tagging on the desk

Western Australia’s shark mitigation methods have been centered on tagging and monitoring, an app for notifications, warning sirens, shark enclosures and private deterrents.

Ms Jarvis mentioned the federal government would assessment this technique to see what extra may very well be achieved to guard seaside goers.

“This is incredibly distressing and I will certainly be talking to my colleagues across emergency services and police to better understand what more we can do for shark mitigation,” she mentioned.

Ms Jarvis mentioned she had spoken with the police minister, and deploying extra drones to identify sharks alongside WA’s huge shoreline was “absolutely under consideration”.

The state authorities already funds using drones for Surf Life Saving WA golf equipment who wish to use them for occasions, together with these involving kids. 

She mentioned the federal government would additionally assessment its tagging program to see if it may very well be elevated. 

More than 300 sharks have been tagged in Western Australia, together with  227 white sharks.

Ms Jarvis mentioned a 2018 CSIRO report indicated there have been round 1,500 white sharks circulating off WA’s coast, however the authorities is awaiting an up to date report, resulting from be launched round May.

A shark barrier on the northern finish of Sorrento Beach was eliminated by Joondalup Council in 2020 resulting from structural failures and the necessity for costly repairs.

When requested whether or not it may very well be reinstated, Ms Jarvis mentioned she can be joyful to revisit the difficulty with the council.

“There are funds available for local governments who wish to put up beach enclosures and so I’m happy to talk to any local government that wishes to go down that path,” she mentioned.

Locals ‘rattled’

Owen Vladich mentioned the neighborhood had been “rattled” by the deadly assault occurring so near shore, describing it as “absolutely tragic”.

“We’re absolutely devastated that this could be so close to home in our little coastal community and it’s not just our community, people come from everywhere to come to this beautiful place,” he mentioned.

Other locals additionally returned to the seaside on Saturday morning to pay their respects and lay flowers.

“I don’t know the guy; I wanted to bring some flowers down,” surfer Craig Hooper mentioned.

Mr Hooper mentioned he was browsing on the seaside on the time of the incident and usually sees kids browsing alongside the favored stretch of shoreline.

“It’s hit home, it’s quite sad … It really shook me up, I was quite rattled last night,” he mentioned.

Hillarys resident Brid Hutchinson mentioned Mr O’Neill’s demise would “change the way [locals] think of Sorrento Beach”, saying a “bleakness” had set over the seaside within the wake of the assault.

“This is our local beach … the boys did surf club here,” she instructed the ABC.

Ms Hutchinson mentioned extra mitigation measures had been wanted to offer swimmers the boldness to return to the water.

“What do we need? Do we need drones or do we need to change the way we patrol the beaches?” she mentioned.

“This is too close [to shore] and obviously the sharks are coming in for a reason.”

The assault comes only a week after Surf Life Saving WA started its weekend helicopter shark patrols, however each day patrols aren’t resulting from begin till subsequent week.

Beaches stay closed

All seashores within the City of Joondalup, from Marmion to Iluka, will stay shut whereas authorities assess the state of affairs.

It has been a decade since there have been this many shark assault deaths within the Perth metro space.

Friday’s fatality comes days after 56-year-old firefighter Mel Ismail was injured in a shark assault at a Geraldton seaside, about 400 kilometres north.

Earlier this 12 months Steven Mattaboni died after a shark assault off Rottnest Island and spearfisher Daniel Turpin was killed close to Albany just a few weeks later.

The final time three individuals died in shark assaults in WA in a single 12 months was 2020, when two individuals had been killed off Esperance, and one other particular person was fatally attacked off Cable Beach in Broome.