Fatal Incident
Fatal shark attack on spearfisher near Great Keppel Island, Queensland
The Keppels, Queensland·Australia
A 40-year-old man died from severe injuries sustained during a shark attack while spearfishing with family near Humpy Island in Queensland's Keppel Bay Islands on December 28, 2024. Emergency services responded but were unable to save him.
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Incident Profile
Circumstances
Environmental
Individual
Location
Description
On December 28, 2024, at approximately 4:30 p.m. local time, a 40-year-old spearfisher was attacked by a shark while fishing with family members near Humpy Island in the Keppel Bay Islands National Park, off central Queensland's coast. The incident occurred on the reef near Humpy Island during what was a family outing. The man sustained severe, life-threatening injuries including a critical wound to the neck and arm. An emergency rescue helicopter was dispatched to the scene at the Humpy Island camping area. Paramedics and emergency medical personnel responded rapidly but were unable to resuscitate the victim. He was pronounced deceased at the scene shortly before 6:00 p.m., approximately 90 minutes after the attack occurred. The species of shark responsible for the attack was not identified in official police statements or media reports. Queensland Police indicated that a formal report would be prepared for the coroner as part of the standard investigation process into the fatal incident. This attack occurred in waters off central Queensland, part of the broader marine environment surrounding the Keppel Islands group.