Surfer Vanishes in Suspected Great White Shark Attack at Wharton Beach
A surfer has gone missing following what witnesses described as a “massive” Great White shark attack at Wharton Beach in south-west Western Australia, a location often listed among the most picturesque beaches in the world.
This marks the fourth fatal attack by a Great White in the area, though it has been five years since local surfer Andrew Sharpe was taken by what was described as a “monster” Great White in 2020. Witnesses on that day reported seeing the water turn red nearly a kilometer away.
The most recent attack follows a series of deadly encounters in the region over the past decade. In 2017, teenager Laeticia Brouwer lost her life in front of her family after being attacked by a Great White. Three years before that, in 2014, surfer Sean Pollard was left severely injured after a Great White took one of his arms and part of his other hand. In the same year that Andrew Sharpe was killed, diver Gary Johnson also lost his life to a Great White attack in the area.
Authorities have not yet released the identity of the latest victim. However, as has become common after such incidents, discussions will likely emerge about the rarity of such attacks, comparisons to other dangers such as bee stings or car accidents, and reassurances about the risks of shark encounters in the ocean.
Local media reported that the attack occurred around midday. Experienced Esperance abalone diver and member of the shark attack survivors’ group Bite Club, Marc Payne, commented on how the local community had been affected by the increasing number of Great White attacks:
> “We used to have a big diving and surfing community here, but we don’t have that anymore.”
The tragedy comes just months after the last fatal Great White attack on a surfer. In January, Streaky Bay resident Lance Appleby was killed by a Great White, marking the fourth fatal attack on a surfer in South Australia in less than two years.
According to local fisherman Jeff Schmucker, the population of Great Whites has grown to such an extent that surfing in the area has become an extreme risk, with some suggesting that anyone entering the water should have a jetski patrolling nearby for safety.
Australia declared the Great White shark a “vulnerable” species in 1999, making it illegal to hunt or harass them. Since then, the number of attacks has continued to rise, with many surfers, divers, and swimmers falling victim to encounters with the apex predator.
Among those lost to Great White attacks in recent years are:
Peter Edmonds
Tadashi Nakahara
Rob Pedretti
Mani Hart-Deville
Mark Sanguinetti
Tim Thompson
Nick Slater
Cameron Bales
Jean Wright
Nick Peterson
Simon Baccanello
Todd Gendle
Khai Cowley
Lance Appleby
Brad Smith
Nick Edwards
Kyle Burden
Ben Linden
Chris Boy
Ben Gerring
Laeticia Brouwer
Andrew Sharpe
Today’s unidentified surfer
Alongside these fatalities, there are countless others whose lives have been forever changed by Great White shark attacks, including those who have suffered severe injuries. The rising number of incidents continues to fuel debate over the balance between conservation efforts and public safety in shark-prone waters.