Incident Report
Whaler Shark Incident During Swimming in Karratha Estuary
karratha, sams creek, Western Australia·Australia
A male swimmer suffered a leg injury in September 2017 at Sam's Creek in Karratha, Western Australia. A whaler shark approximately 1 meter in length was involved in the non-fatal incident.
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Incident Profile
Individual
Location
Description
In September 2017, a swimming incident occurred at Sam's Creek in Karratha, Western Australia, located in the Indian Ocean region known for diverse shark populations. The victim, a male swimmer, sustained an injury to the leg during the encounter. A whaler shark (genus Carcharhinus), estimated at approximately 1 meter in length, was identified as the species involved. The incident took place in an estuary/harbour environment, a coastal zone where freshwater and saltwater interact, creating habitat utilized by various shark species. The outcome was classified as non-fatal with injury sustained. Whaler sharks are relatively common in Australian waters and typically inhabit coastal and estuarine regions. This incident reflects the ongoing interaction between human recreation and marine fauna in Western Australian coastal areas.