Young diver fatally attacked during holiday swim in Brisbane Waters

A multiple-victim event in which a 14-year-old boy was fatally taken and his 12-year-old sister was simultaneously struck by the same shark, witnessed by family members from the jetty, with the body never recovered — despite prior warnings that the bay was shark-infested; the incident is well-sourced across contemporary press and Coppleson's foundational 1958 study.

On Sunday, December 23, 1934, a tragedy struck at Horsfield Bay near Woy Woy, New South Wales, during what began as an ordinary holiday afternoon. The Inman family from Sydney had arrived at a cottage on Brisbane Waters for the Christmas holidays and spent the morning swimming and diving from a small jetty in front of their accommodation. Shortly after lunch, 14-year-old Roy Inman and his 12-year-old sister Joyce returned to the jetty to engage in a friendly diving competition. Their 26-year-old sister Kathleen watched from the cottage doorway while their mother observed from the verandah. The water depth at the jetty was approximately 10 feet, with water temperature at 70°F. Unsettled weather conditions prevailed, with cloudy skies and passing storms. Joyce dove first, and Roy followed, playfully teasing his sister that he could dive with less of a splash. Within moments of Roy entering the water, Joyce spotted a large black fin approaching. She screamed a warning and kicked frantically toward safety. As the shark passed, its fin grazed Joyce's leg, causing superficial abrasions and a sharp stinging sensation. The shark then attacked Roy. Witnesses reported seeing the boy surface briefly before the shark struck again, pulling him beneath the water. His head appeared once more above the surface before he disappeared entirely. Kathleen immediately launched a small dinghy and frantically probed the water with an oar, hoping to strike the shark and force it to release her brother. Roy's parents and local authorities joined the desperate search, but the boy's body was never recovered. The incident occurred in waters where shark warnings had been issued to holiday-makers for several weeks prior. Local fishermen had reportedly spent considerable time attempting to capture the animals in the bay. The shark involved was thought to be a bull shark, estimated at approximately 10 feet in length. Joyce's injuries were limited to abrasions on her calf, making her fortunate to escape with minor injuries while her brother did not survive the encounter.