Man dead after Rottnest Island shark attack

Sat 16 May 2026 at 12:49pm

In short:

A 38-year-old man had been spearfishing with three friends when he was killed in a shark attack at Rottnest Island.

Police say the man suffered "horrific injuries" when he was bitten on the lower legs just before 10am at Horseshoe Reef, north of Marjorie Bay.

What's next?

Police will prepare a report for the coroner.

A 38-year-old man had been spearfishing with friends when he was killed in a shark attack off Rottnest Island on Saturday morning.

Police Sergeant Michael Wear provided an update on the "horrific" attack, which happened just before 10am at Horseshoe Reef, north of Marjorie Bay on the western end of the popular holiday island.

A police officer delivers a media conference — Rottnest Island officer-in-charge Sergeant Michael Wear says the man's injuries were horrific. (ABC News: Blake Kagi)

Sergeant Wear said the victim was on the surface of the water and about 20 metres from his boat when he was bitten on the lower legs.

"The friends of the victim retrieved his body from the water, they gave him CPR on the way back in and came straight into the Geordie Bay jetty," he said.

"The friends have witnessed the horrific event."

Police and ambulance parked near a jetty at a bay — The man was attacked at Geordie Bay on the north of the island. (ABC News)

Sergeant Wear said the man was with a group of three friends from Perth's northern suburbs who had visited Rottnest for the day to go spearfishing about 1 kilometre offshore.

Police and paramedics surround someone on the jetty from afar — Paramedics and police tried to revive the man but he could not be saved. (ABC News)

When the man was brought ashore, a crowd of first responders looked on as paramedics and police performed CPR on the man at Geordie Bay jetty.

"Sadly, the man was unable to be revived," a police spokesperson said in a statement.

Police and ambulance crews on the scene — Police and ambulance crews rushed to the scene. (ABC News)

Aerial vision showed first responders then transporting the man's body up the stairs at the base of the Geordie Bay jetty.

He was then placed on a stretcher and transported to the back of an ambulance at around 11:20am.

A man holds a speargun while standing in a small boat — Vision shows a man returning a speargun to a small boat that was tethered to a Water Police vessel. (ABC News)

The vision also showed a Water Police boat tethered to a smaller boat, which was equipped with spearfishing gear.

'Confronting' scene

Jarrad Young, who was visiting Rottnest for a wedding, said he was driving around the island when he saw helicopters, police and bystanders congregating around Geordie Bay.

A man wears a baseball cap and grey jumper as he is interviewed in front of a jetty — Bystander Jarrad Young said it was confronting to witness the aftermath of the shark attack. (ABC News)

He said a friend who had been diving with the victim looked distressed and shocked.

"Everyone was watching on as they were doing CPR," he said.

"Obviously, it is a bit of a sad day, no-one really wants to see that on the island. Everyone just wants to come and enjoy the beaches and the ocean.

"It was really confronting. I think everyone was hoping he was OK, but it didn't look too good in the end, which is unfortunate."

A map showing the location of Horseshoe Reef on the western side of the island — Horseshoe Reef is a popular diving spot about 1 kilometre north of Rocky Bay. (ABC News)

Horseshoe Reef is located about one kilometre north of Rocky Bay off the north-west coast of Rottnest Island.

It is a popular spot for diving and fishing, mostly known for the Mira Flores shipwreck.

'Deeply distressing': Premier

In a social media post, WA Premier Roger Cook described the shark attack as "deeply distressing" and gave his heartfelt condolences to the man's family and friends.

"It is a devastating time for all involved," Mr Cook said.

"This is a tragedy that will be felt by all Western Australians."

A wide shot of a bay on an overcast day — The man was transported to Geordie Bay following the shark attack. (ABC News)

WA Police will prepare a report for the coroner.

In a statement, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) said it received a report that the man was bitten by a 4-metre shark.

DPIRD urged people to take additional caution around the Horseshoe Reef and Marjorie Bay areas, and a department patrol vessel would be out on the water monitoring the area.