Shark Fatally Attacks Man in His 60s Off Sorrento Beach, Perth — Onlookers Describe Horrific Scene

A man believed to be in his 60s was killed by a shark while swimming off Sorrento Beach in Perth's northern suburbs on Friday, leaving beachgoers traumatised, police said.

Search and Response

Boats and helicopters were deployed to search the waters after the late-morning attack, according to a police statement. Authorities closed the beach to swimmers while investigations continued. Police said they were confident the 'swimmer died as a result of the attack' but did not confirm whether any possible remains had been recovered.

Witness Accounts

Several witnesses described a distressing scene. A man identified only as Darrel told the Nine Network that the victim had been swimming with a companion who is now traumatised. Darrel said the friend apologised, telling him, 'I didn't save my mate.' Darrel added, 'You couldn't have done anything.'

Regular swimmer Ingrid Mitchell told Nine: 'How do you just watch someone be mauled to pieces in front of you, basically? It's pretty hard.'

Other witnesses reported seeing blood in the water. Beach walker Jacqui Rapaic told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that a friend alerted her: 'Jac, I think there's been a shark attack,' and when she looked out she could see a pool of blood. Local resident Ryan Rowe told The West Australian he was shocked by how much blood had come from a human body.

Broader Context

Separately, a surfer sustained a serious leg injury earlier in the week near Geraldton, about 400 kilometres (250 miles) north of Perth. Officials say there have been at least five fatal shark attacks in Australia so far this year.

In January, a 12-year-old boy died after a shark bite in Sydney Harbour — one of four attacks recorded over two days that led authorities to temporarily close dozens of beaches. Between May and June, three divers were fatally attacked in separate incidents (two in Western Australia and one in Queensland). In June, a woman at a popular Sydney beach survived after being mauled and later said she remembered striking the animal before it dragged her underwater.

Since 2000, Australia has averaged two to three fatal shark attacks per year, according to the Australian Shark Incident Database, a partnership including Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Flinders University and the New South Wales government. The International Shark Attack File, maintained by the University of Florida, records more than 1,280 shark incidents around Australia since 1791, including over 250 fatal encounters. Researchers say the number of recorded incidents has risen as the population and popularity of ocean recreation such as surfing and scuba diving have increased.

What Authorities Are Doing

Police and marine safety officials are continuing to investigate the Sorrento Beach attack and have urged the public to avoid the area while searches and assessments are ongoing. Further details, including the victim's identity and circumstances of the attack, have not been released pending notification of next of kin and ongoing inquiries.