Shark attack: man dies on Great Barrier Reef in far north Queensland | Queensland
A man has died in a shark attack on the Great Barrier Reef south of Cairns.
The 39-year-old man was reportedly fishing at Kennedy Shoal, a shallow reef about 50km off the Queensland coast between Cairns and Townsville.
The area is popular for recreational fishing and diving.
Emergency services were notified at midday on Sunday and the man, who was in a critical condition, was taken back to the Hull River Heads boat ramp near the town of Tully.
He died from his injuries shortly after being brought ashore.
Queensland police said they would prepare a report for the coroner “following the sudden and unsuspicious death of a 39-year-old man” in the Cassowary Coast area.
“Emergency services were called to the Hull River Heads boat ramp just before 12pm following reports that a man had been attacked by a shark at Kennedy Shoal.
“The man was pulled from the water and died from his injuries.”
Shark attacks are rare but have occurred on reefs and shallows off the Queensland coast. In 2021, retired US Navy diver Rick Bettua survived an attack by a bull shark at Britomart Reef, located about 30 km south of Kennedy Shoal.
It is not yet known what type of shark was involved in Sunday’s death.
Bull sharks and tiger sharks are known to be common throughout the Great Barrier Reef. Great White Sharks are also known to live on reefs, but they are less common in warmer waters.
A man died after being attacked by a shark on Rottnest Island near Perth last weekend. The 38-year-old man was treated at the scene on Saturday but could not be revived.
