Sorrento shark attack: Victim’s family pay tribute by laying flowers by beach closure sign
The family of the man killed in a shark attack at an Australian beach paid tribute to him this morning, laying flowers by a beach closure sign.
The family of the man killed in a shark attack at an Australian beach paid tribute to him on Saturday morning, laying flowers by a beach closure.
Wind whipped the shoreline as lifeguards on buggies tried to shield the grieving group — two adults and a child — from growing crowds at Sorrento Beach in Perth.
They stood together for sometime before quietly leaving the beach by a longer route.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.It is expected that the beach will remain closed until Sunday.
The 63-year-old man was swimming with a friend about 15m offshore near Raleigh Road, south of Hillarys Boat Harbour, just after 10am on Friday when he was attacked.
Three St John WA ambulances, WA Police, Water Police and the Surf Life Saving WA Westpac Lifesaver helicopter rushed to the scene under priority-one conditions.
The man was later declared deceased. His body has not been found.
WA Police conducted a search of the shoreline on Saturday morning and will remain in the area throughout the day.
A small crowd gathered at the beach this morning to lay flowers and pay their respects.
Among them was local surfer Craig Young, who was in the water yesterday when the attack happened.
“I was surfing yesterday at the time the shark attack happened, and it was really freaky in the water,” he said.
“I saw the fisheries boat go past and knew something really bad had happened. I just had this feeling something was going to go down.”
Mr Young said the attack had shaken the tight-knit community of surfers who regularly use the stretch of coast.
“I surf here all the time in winter. There are lots of surfers and lots of kids surfing, and it’s just hit home how close it is to a lot of surfers who come along this stretch,” he said.
“I just wanted to come down and pay my respects. I don’t know the guy, but I wanted to give him some flowers.
“It really shook me up. I was quite unwell last night.”
The shark is believed to have been a large great white, with reports suggesting it could have been about 5m long.
Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis has ordered the shark believed to be responsible to be destroyed.
