Great White Shark Attack: 38-Year-Old Man Killed by 13-Foot ‘Monster' at Tourist Beach
A 38-year-old man was killed by a monster-sized Great White Shark at a popular tourist spot in Australia.
According to ABC Australia, the man, who has not been publicly named, was spearfishing with friends when the Great White Shark attacked him off Australia's Rottnest Island on Saturday morning, May 16.
A public official, Roger Cook, wrote on Facebook that the shark attack was "deeply distressing."
"This is a tragedy that will be felt by all west Australians," he wrote. "My heartfelt condolences go out to the man's family and friends. It is a devastating time for all involved. Thank you to the first responders and emergency personnel who attended the scene."
A Police Official Called the Shark Attack 'Horrific'
Police Sergeant Michael Wear called the shark "horrific." According to ABC, the attack occurred just before 10 a.m. "at Horseshoe Reef, north of Marjorie Bay on the western end of the popular holiday island."
The shark bit the man on his lower legs, Wear told the television network. "The friends of the victim retrieved his body from the water, they gave him CPR on the way back in and came straight into the Geordie Bay jetty," he said, according to ABC.
The area "is a popular spot for diving and fishing, mostly known for the Mira Flores shipwreck," ABC reported.
"A 38-year-old man was in the water at Horseshoe Reef when he was believed to have been bitten by a shark," a spokesperson for St. John WA Ambulance told People.
"The man was conveyed by vessel to shore, where he was met by St. John WA paramedics. Sadly, the man was unable to be revived," the statement to People added.
The Fatal Shark Attack Was the 2nd in Australia This Year
According to Sky News, the man's death marked the second fatal shark attack in Australia this year.
A boy died in Sydney harbor from a January shark attack, the outlet reported. That boy, Nico Antic, 12, was bitten by a shark after jumping off rocks with friends, Sky News reported. That boy also suffered severe injuries to his legs, according to Sky News.
Sharks also injured men in two other attacks and one bit the surf board of another boy, Sky News reported.
How Many Shark Attacks Are There Each Year in the World?
Shark attacks remain rare on a global basis. "The Florida Museum of Natural History's International Shark Attack File investigated 105 alleged shark-human interactions worldwide in 2025. ISAF confirmed 65 unprovoked shark bites on humans and 29 provoked bites," that shark attack tracking institution states on its website.
"The 2025 worldwide total of 65 confirmed unprovoked cases is in line with the most recent five-year (2020-2024) average of 61 incidents annually. There were 12 confirmed shark-related fatalities this year, nine of which are assigned as unprovoked," the site noted.
"This number is also in line with the most recent five-year annual global average of eight unprovoked fatalities per year. Three of the unprovoked fatalities were due to bites from white sharks on surfers in Australia."
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 17, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published May 17, 2026 at 4:14 AM.