Fatal Incident
Fatal Great White Shark Attack on Surfer at Wharton Beach, Western Australia
esperance, wharton beach, Western Australia·Australia
A 37-year-old surfer was fatally attacked by a great white shark at Wharton Beach near Esperance, Western Australia, on March 10, 2025. The incident marked the first confirmed fatality in the area during early 2025.
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Incident Profile
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Description
On March 10, 2025, at approximately 12:10 p.m., a fatal shark attack occurred at Wharton Beach near Esperance in Western Australia. A 37-year-old male surfer was attacked while surfing in chest-deep water during the afternoon hours, resulting in a fatality. Witness accounts describe a sudden attack. Joscelin Boissieux, present at the beach, reported hearing screams and urgent calls to evacuate the water. He observed the victim's surfboard in the water surrounded by discolored water, with a shark's fin circling the area. The only item recovered from the incident was the surfboard, which bore bite marks consistent with a great white shark attack. Emergency services were alerted at approximately 12:17 p.m., prompting an immediate response from Western Australia Police Force, Marine Rescue WA, and State Emergency Service (SES) personnel. Search operations commenced on the day of the attack and continued the following morning. The Shire of Esperance subsequently closed Wharton Beach to the public as a precautionary safety measure. Wharton Beach is located approximately 60 kilometers east of Esperance in the Cape Le Grand area, a region known for shark activity. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) monitored the situation closely, and the public was directed to the SharkSmart website and app for safety updates. No additional shark sightings were reported in the immediate area following the attack.