A swimmer is feared dead after a shark attacked beachgoers at Sorrento Beach in the northern suburbs of Perth, Western Australia, on Friday morning. Emergency services arrived at the beach at 10:15am local time on September 18, following reports that the man was attacked around 50 metres from the shore.
Eyewitnesses said the man was accompanied by a friend who told onlookers: “I couldn’t save my mate.” A nurse who was off-duty and visiting the beach told 9News she saw the man being “mauled” in the water. She recalled: “I’m a nurse, so I mean I obviously see a lot of gruesome stuff, but to see somebody being mauled to death in the water in front of me is pretty hard to clock.”
Investigation launched
An investigation has been launched by Surf Life Saving WA. Shark Smart, a service that tracks shark sightings in Australia, said it is working with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) to respond to the matter.
A statement said: “The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is currently assisting WA Police with a serious shark incident at Sorrento Beach in the City of Joondalup. DPIRD received a report of a possible shark related incident at approximately 10:15am on September 18, 2026 involving a swimmer at Sorrento Beach. DPIRD is working with WA Police and local authorities to coordinate responses.”
Beaches closed
The statement added: “The City of Joondalup has closed all beaches in the City of Joondalup from J210 Marmion BEN sign in the south to J37 Iluka BEN Sign to the north. The beaches will remain closed until 12:00 pm tomorrow when officers from the City of Joondalup will reassess the situation.”
Shark sightings are common in Western Australia, but the Sorrento attack left locals stunned. Mike Munro told 9News: “Everyone knows there’s sharks in the water, but you don’t sort of, come along expecting this. I don’t really know how to put it into words, it’s just a shocking thing.”
