Shark attack claims life of Melbourne surfer in Western Australia

(Web Desk): A missing surfer is feared dead after a possible shark attack at Wharton Beach in Western Australia, one of the country's top surfing spots.

Police said the 30-year-old man from Melbourne was seen in distress after screams were heard from witnesses, before he disappeared. Emergency services were called to the beach following reports of a possible shark attack. The surfer’s board, which had clear bite marks, was later found, but his body is still missing. Police Commissioner Col Blanch confirmed that the search is now expected to become a recovery operation.

Drone footage captured by a witness showed a shark swimming away from a cloud of blood near the shore. The surfer’s family has been informed, though they do not expect him to be found alive. The man had been traveling with his girlfriend, and they had plans to meet his family later in the week.

Witnesses described a chaotic scene at the beach. One beachgoer, Joscelin Boissieux, recalled the surfer's partner panicking as people rushed to get out of the water. "It was a very panicked moment," she told 9News.

The beach was closed, and authorities warned visitors about the shark in the area. Police, Marine Rescue, and State Emergency Service teams launched a search operation, but the surfer has not been found.

If confirmed, this would be the fourth fatal shark attack in the area since 2017, two of which involved great white sharks. The coastal community was deeply affected by two local deaths from shark attacks in 2020. While shark attacks are rare in Australia, the country has recorded 255 fatal shark incidents since 1791.