A 63‑year‑old swimmer, Greg O'Neill, was killed by a great white shark roughly 15 metres from the shore of Sorrento Beach in Perth on Friday morning. Witnesses saw the attack unfold, and O'Neill's swimming partner escaped unharmed but traumatized.
Police and marine units launched an immediate search using boats and helicopters, yet O'Neill's body remains missing. The beaches along Western Australia's coast will stay closed until at least Sunday, as authorities prioritise public safety.
In an unprecedented move, Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis signed a targeted catch‑and‑kill order after the shark was positively identified. Jarvis said the decision was driven by the severity of the attack, the ongoing threat to beachgoers and the need to recover evidence for the coroner. The order is the first of its kind in the region in about a decade, though officials emphasised there is no plan for a broader shark cull.
The O'Neill family expressed deep shock and devastation, calling him a generous, devoted family man who loved the ocean. They said, "Our family is deeply shocked and devastated by the terrible tragedy that took the life of father, grandfather‑to‑be, brother, uncle, husband and friend, Greg James O'Neill." The search for the shark continues as the state prepares for potential further measures.