Shark sighted as authorities search for missing Perth swimmer after horror attack

A shark believed to have attacked a swimmer at a popular Perth beach on Friday morning has been repeatedly sighted more than a kilometre west of the Hillarys Boat Marina as authorities attempt to recover the man’s body.

The man was attacked and killed while swimming about 50 metres off Sorrento Beach just after 10am, near a groyne that borders the Sorrento Surf Club.

The scene at Sorrento Beach, in Perth’s north, on Friday morning after a suspected shark attack.Hannah MurphyHe was in the company of another man who witnessed the attack, and the shark is described to have been up to six metres long.

A WA Police spokesperson has confirmed the swimmer died as a result of the attack.

Witnesses reported seeing the man be pulled below the surface repeatedly, before he disappeared. Lifesavers raced to rescue him but were unsuccessful in locating him.

A witness told this masthead there was blood in the water, while the swimmer who had accompanied the victim had to be consoled by rescuers once he got to shore.

The first call to emergency services was made around 10.15am, the same time as reports of a large shark in the area. Three St John WA ambulances were dispatched before being stood down.

One witness recounted the horrific scene, telling media the attack was confronting.

“I’m a nurse, so I mean I obviously see a lot of gruesome stuff, but to see somebody being [attacked] in front of me is pretty hard to clock,” she said.

“I only live just down the road, and I swim every day. I mean, there’s no way I’m going to be getting in that water again.”

It is understood the man was a regular swimmer, and authorities were seen carrying a pink board and a ski up towards the surf club from the beach.

A police boat and helicopter, along with the Surf Life Saving helicopter and a Fisheries vessel scoured close to shore for about an hour after the attack before widening their net out to sea.

It is understood the shark was sighted multiple times about 1.6 kilometres west of Hillarys Boat Harbour just after 1pm, and authorities are tracking its movements.

About 1.11pm an official report with SharkSmart was lodged, estimating the shark to be about five metres in length and swimming west of the Boyinaboat reef break.

The shark siren, activated by the surf club, has been repeatedly sounding since the attack.

On land, forensics police and specialist detectives have arrived at the scene and taped off a section of the car park, which is directly across from Sacred Heart College, along with the stairs to the groyne where the man was attacked, which have also been taped off.

An incident command vehicle has arrived and has been set up, and students from a nearby high school have been seen crowding the balcony of the school to view the beach closure during their lunch period.

Forensics police and specialist detectives have now arrived at the scene and have taped off a section of the car park. Hannah MurphyAdvertisementThe City of Joondalup has deployed city safety officers, and has closed beaches from Burns Beach all the way to Marmion as a precaution.

A local woman who swims at the beach every morning said she was horrified by what happened, and considered Sorrento Beach a safe place for swimmers.

Locals who also lived nearby said the incident had reminded them of what happened to Ken Crew in Cottesloe in 2000, when the businessman lost his leg when he was bitten by a great white shark in shallow water metres off Perth’s Cottesloe Beach.

The stretch of coast is bordered by the popular West Coast Drive, where hundreds of people make the scenic walk every morning.

The size and species of the shark still has not been confirmed. Fisheries will investigate.

Opposition fisheries spokeswoman Kirrilee Warr, who previously criticised the state government’s shark mitigation strategy following the attack on Geraldton surfer Mel Ismail on Monday, said she offered her condolences to the man’s family.

“My condolences and prayers are with the victim, their family, friends, first responders and the Sorrento community, following reports of a suspected fatal shark incident,” she said.

“This is a deeply distressing incident, and my thoughts are with all those affected, particularly those who witnessed or responded to what has occurred.”

The Sorrento Surf Life Saving Club was set to host a busy bee on Sunday in preparation for the upcoming season, although it remains to be seen whether the event will go ahead as planned.

The attack comes just months after the City of Joondalup reportedly received a settlement over a failed shark net that had previously been erected at the beach.

The shark net had failed to withstand the elements at the beach, and had broken apart over time.

It was ultimately taken down in 2020 and never replaced.

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