Rahul Somvanshi
A surfer from Melbourne remains missing after a fatal shark attack at Wharton Beach near Esperance, Western Australia. The attack occurred around midday on Monday when the man in his 30s was surfing in chest-deep water approximately 30 meters from shore.
According to witnesses, the attack sparked panic among beachgoers. “There were screams. There were people saying ‘get out’ – it was a very panicked moment,” said witness Joscelin Boissieux. “We heard a scream and everyone got out of the water.”
The victim’s surfboard was found floating with visible bite marks, but despite extensive search efforts, the surfer has not been located. The man’s partner was on the beach when the attack happened. “She was shocked,” Boissieux noted.
Police Commissioner Col Blanch told 6PR Radio that drone footage taken after the attack shows “large amounts of blood in the water.” The search resumed at first light today but has now been confirmed as a recovery effort.
“I suspect it will be a recovery of a body, if we can find it,” Blanch said. “It’s just one of those tragedies in our community that happen.”
The victim’s brother confirmed that the surfer was visiting the region with his girlfriend and had planned to meet family in Western Australia later this week. The family does not expect that he will be found.
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History of Shark Attacks in the Region
The Esperance region has a troubling history of fatal shark attacks. Of the last six confirmed fatal shark attacks in Western Australia, three occurred in the Esperance area:
- In 2020, 57-year-old Gary Johnson was killed while diving near Cull Island
- Also in 2020, surfer Andrew Sharpe was fatally mauled at Kelp Beds
- In 2017, 17-year-old Laeticia Brouwer died after being bitten by a white shark while surfing at Kelp Beds
Community Response
Esperance Shire President Ron Chambers acknowledged the impact on the community. “The community’s been here before, they’ll wrap around each other and make sure they take care of each other,” he told ABC Radio Perth.
“We’ve got absolutely fantastic beaches and we get a lot of people down here that visit them. It is really sad that something like this has happened on that particular beach.”
Chambers noted that shark attacks bring up painful memories for locals. “People need to be vigilant and manage that risk as much as possible,” he added.
Questions About Shark Management
Former Esperance abalone diver and Bite Club member Marc Payne expressed frustration about what he sees as inadequate action from authorities after several fatal attacks.
Speaking to Radio 6PR, Payne stated that authorities were “completely ignoring the situation” and that “only closing the beach and driving up and down with their boats after an attack was not enough.”
Payne claimed shark interactions in the area are “increasing considerably” and made the concerning assertion that sharks in the Esperance area are now “targeting humans” in the water. “It’s not a mistake,” he said.
Search and Response Efforts
Local police, along with Marine Rescue WA and SES volunteers, were deployed Monday afternoon to lead the search operation. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is assisting in the investigation.
According to the SharkSmart monitoring website, a public report about a shark sighting 50 meters off the shore was made just five minutes after police were called to the scene.
Chambers explained that while tagging and warning devices are in place along the coastline, shark movements remain unpredictable. “They’re a wild animal that’s out in the ocean. We have no control over their movements or where they can or can’t go, so there is a risk when you do go into the water.”
FAQ
What happened at Wharton Beach near Esperance?
+A surfer in his 30s from Melbourne was attacked by a shark in chest-deep water at Wharton Beach near Esperance, Western Australia. The attack happened around midday on Monday while the victim’s partner watched from the shore. Despite extensive search efforts, the surfer remains missing and is presumed dead.
How common are shark attacks in the Esperance region?
+The Esperance region has experienced three fatal shark attacks since 2017, representing half of all fatal shark attacks in Western Australia during that period. In 2020, there were two fatalities: Gary Johnson (killed while diving near Cull Island) and Andrew Sharpe (attacked at Kelp Beds). In 2017, 17-year-old Laeticia Brouwer died after being bitten while surfing at Kelp Beds.
What safety measures are in place to prevent shark attacks in the area?
+According to Esperance Shire President Ron Chambers, tagging and warning devices are in place along the coastline. However, as he noted, sharks are wild animals whose movements remain unpredictable. Following attacks, authorities typically close beaches and conduct patrols, though some locals like former abalone diver Marc Payne have criticized these measures as insufficient.
What should I do if I encounter a shark while swimming or surfing?
+While specific safety advice wasn’t provided in reports about this incident, staying aware of your surroundings and checking shark warnings before entering the water are common safety practices. Esperance Shire President Ron Chambers emphasized that people should “be vigilant and manage that risk as much as possible” when entering waters in known shark habitats.
Why are shark attacks increasing in the Esperance area according to locals?
+Local expert Marc Payne claimed that shark interactions in the Esperance area are “increasing considerably” and stated that sharks in the region are now “targeting humans” in crystal clear waters, saying “it’s not a mistake.” While he expressed concern about the frequency of shark encounters in the area, he noted that authorities are “completely ignoring the situation” despite the region experiencing three of the last six fatal shark attacks in Western Australia.
What is being done to recover the missing surfer?
+Local police, Marine Rescue WA, and SES volunteers initiated a search operation on Monday afternoon. The search resumed at first light on Tuesday but has been described by Police Commissioner Col Blanch as a “recovery effort” rather than a rescue mission. Drone footage showed “large amounts of blood in the water,” and the victim’s family has indicated they do not expect he will be found.
