A mother of four was killed by a 20-foot great white shark while snorkelling off the coast of South Australia in 1985, with her children watching from the shore. Shirley Ann Durdin, 33, was collecting scallops in Peake Bay when the predator attacked, biting her in half and devouring her remains. The incident occurred just 150 yards from the beach, where her horrified children witnessed the tragedy.
Her husband, Barry, had to be restrained by onlookers from rushing into the water to save her. The shark, estimated at 20 feet long, left only a headless torso before disappearing. Authorities later searched for Shirley's remains but found only a single swim fin. The family had recently moved to the coast due to Barry's severe allergies to farm life.
The attack is considered one of the most notorious in history, as great white sharks rarely consume humans. It sparked fear among locals, with some calling for a shark cull, though experts warned that culling could harm the ecosystem. The incident was the first fatal shark attack in South Australian waters since 1974, when a great white killed diver Terry Manuel.
Manuel, 26, was diving for sea snails off Cape Catastrophe when a 15-foot great white launched him out of the water. His companion, John, attempted to rescue him but the shark repeatedly seized and shook Manuel, eventually tearing off one of his legs. He died from blood loss shortly after.
