Fatal Incident
Fatal White Shark Encounter During Snorkelling at Houtman Abrolhos
houtman abrolhos, pelsaert island, wreck point, Western Australia·Australia
A 26-year-old male snorkeller suffered fatal injuries to the torso in an encounter with a 6-meter white shark at Wreck Point, Pelsaert Island, Western Australia, in March 2005.
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Incident Profile
Individual
Location
Description
In March 2005, a fatal shark incident occurred at Wreck Point near Pelsaert Island in the Houtman Abrolhos archipelago off the coast of Western Australia. The victim, a 26-year-old male, was snorkelling in the open ocean waters surrounding the island when he was attacked by a white shark estimated at 6 meters in length. The shark inflicted fatal injuries to the victim's torso. This incident remains part of the documented record of shark-human interactions in Australian waters, an area known for white shark activity due to its rich marine ecosystem and proximity to seal populations that attract large predatory sharks.