A 39-year-old man has died after being attacked by a shark on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, marking the second fatal shark attack in the country in just over a week. The incident occurred on Sunday near Kennedy Shoal, a shallow reef approximately 28 miles off the coast of Queensland in northeast Australia.
Details of the Attack
The victim, a resident of Cairns, was diving from a boat with three friends during a spearfishing trip when the attack happened. According to Queensland Police Service, the man was bitten and sustained a critical head injury. He was rushed to shore in the tourist town of Hull Heads, where paramedics were waiting. Despite their efforts, he died shortly after being brought to land.
Police Inspector Elaine Burns told reporters: "The man had been spearfishing when he was attacked and died from a critical head injury." The ambulance service confirmed he had sustained injuries incompatible with life.
Location and Recent Sightings
Kennedy Shoal is a shallow coral reef popular with recreational fishers and divers, who are also drawn to the Lady Bowen, a 19th-century shipwreck. Reports indicate that bull sharks had been seen in the area before the attack.
Previous Fatal Incident
This death follows another fatal shark attack earlier this month. On 16 May 2026, 38-year-old Steve Mattabonni was killed by a 13-foot great white shark while spearfishing with a friend at Horseshoe Reef, near Perth, Western Australia. Aerial footage showed him being rushed to shore, where paramedics performed CPR but could not save him.
A police spokesperson said: "About 9.55am on Saturday 16 May 2026, emergency services were advised of a possible shark attack off the coast of Rottnest Island. A 38-year-old man was in the water at Horseshoe Reef when he was believed to have been bitten by a shark. The man was conveyed by vessel to shore, where he was met by paramedics."
Shark Attack Statistics
According to conservation groups, there are around 20 shark attacks in Australia every year, but the vast majority are not fatal. In January, dozens of beaches along Australia's east coast, including in Sydney, were closed after four shark attacks in two days. Those attacks were linked to heavy rains creating murky water that attracts sharks and reduces visibility.
While shark attacks attract significant media attention, they are not the greatest hazard in Australian waters. Far more people drown on the country's beaches each year. Since 1791, there have been an estimated 1,300 recorded shark attacks, with around 260 resulting in death.
