The family of a man killed in a shark attack off the coast of Western Australia has paid tribute to their 'one-of-a-kind gentleman.' Steven 'Mattas' Mattaboni, 38, was mauled by a great white shark near Rottnest Island, a popular tourist destination, on Saturday.
Victim Remembered as Devoted Father
Steven leaves behind his wife Shirene and two young daughters, aged two and four months. In a statement, Shirene described him as a generous and doting father. 'Our hearts are irrevocably broken by the loss of Steven,' she said. 'An avid fisherman and spearfisherman, who lived and breathed the ocean, he was always in tune with the sea. He was fiercely loyal, endlessly generous, and the kind of man who would give you the shirt off his back.'
Tributes from the Community
Steven also played competitive Australian Rules Football for Kingsley Football Club. The club paid tribute, saying, 'Mattas was one of the most genuine people you could meet. He had a smile and presence that could light up a room.' Sergeant Michael Wear, leading the investigation, confirmed that Steven's friends witnessed the attack and retrieved his body from the water, performing CPR on the way to shore.
Surf Life Saving WA reported that a 16-foot great white shark was spotted around the time of the attack. This is the first fatal shark attack in Western Australia since March last year. Since 1791, there have been an estimated 1,300 shark attacks in Australia, with 260 resulting in death.
