Friends of a man killed by a shark as he was spearfishing off the coast of a tourist hotspot fought desperately to save him.
The 38-year-old Perth man was attacked by the shark at Horseshoe Reef off Rottnest Island just after 10am on Saturday.
Sergeant Michael Wear, officer in charge of Rottnest Island police station, later revealed the heroic efforts of the man’s friends after the horrific incident.
“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 told reporters on Saturday afternoon.
“The friends have witnessed the horrific event.”
Sergeant Read said the man was on the surface of the water spearfishing 20m from his boat about a kilometre offshore when the shark emerged.
“The injuries are quite horrific, and with respect to the family, we won’t go any further today,” he said.
“Obviously, a very confronting scene. Certainly quite horrific scenes for all involved and all the emergency services that were there did a fantastic job.”
The RAC rescue helicopter was sent to the scene, but the injured man was unable to be revived by paramedics.
Witness Jarrad Young was visiting Rottnest for a wedding.
“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,” 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.”
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development has urged those on Rottnest Island to take extra care in the water.
The attack has sent shockwaves through the community, with WA Premier Roger Cook among those reacting to the horror, which he described as “deeply distressing”.
“It is a devastating time for all involved,” Mr Cook said.
“This is a tragedy that will be felt by all Western Australians.”
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