A 35-year-old man has died after being bitten by a shark while spearfishing near Michaelmas Island off the coast of Albany, Western Australia. The incident occurred on Saturday morning, with emergency services called to the scene just before 11:30am local time.
Police confirmed the man was brought to shore by boat, where paramedics treated him for over two hours but were unable to revive him. The state's Department of Primary Industries reported that the shark involved was suspected to be 4.5 metres in length.
The man was spearfishing with his family at the time of the attack. Authorities have warned the public to exercise caution in the Michaelmas Island area and to follow any beach closures advised by park rangers or surf life savers.
The Department of Primary Industries is working with police and local authorities to coordinate the response. This marks the latest in a series of shark incidents along the Western Australian coast.
