Abalone Diver Severely Injured in Great White Shark Attack off Western Australia

The victim had a notable personal history with shark incidents — previously bitten by a bronze whaler in 2004 and survived a boat capsize in 2009 — and this attack required an exceptionally complex, multi-stage rescue involving fellow divers, a four-wheel-drive ambulance navigating a remote track, and a Royal Flying Doctor Service flight of 700 km to surgery, all from one of the most remote stretches of the Western Australian coast.

On the morning of October 8, 2013, a 55-year-old male abalone diver encountered a great white shark while working in the remote waters off Poison Creek, Cape Arid National Park, approximately 180 kilometers east of Esperance, Western Australia. The diver, an experienced employee of Southern Wild Abalone—the state's largest abalone processor—had been diving professionally for roughly 40 years. At approximately 10:30 AM, while gathering abalone about five miles offshore and approximately 20 meters from his vessel, the diver was bitten by the shark. The attack resulted in severe injuries to his torso and shoulders, with additional injuries to his head and face. Despite the severity of the encounter, the diver managed to surface and alert nearby divers to his condition. Rescue efforts were swift and coordinated. Crew members from another diving vessel who witnessed the attack immediately assisted, controlling blood loss and helping the injured diver into a boat. The vessels were towed toward shore to meet emergency response personnel. Due to the remote location—Poison Creek is accessible only by four-wheel-drive vehicles—an ambulance from Condingup navigated difficult terrain to reach the diver. He was transported to Esperance Hospital, arriving around 2:00 PM. Given the severity of his injuries, the Royal Flying Doctor Service transported the diver approximately 700 kilometers to Royal Perth Hospital, where he underwent surgery at 8:30 PM. He was discharged on October 14, 2013, after six days of hospitalization. Following the incident, the Department of Fisheries issued an order to locate and kill the shark. However, this order was cancelled the following day by director general Stuart Smith after the department determined that no imminent public threat remained. No further sightings of a great white shark were reported in the area, suggesting the animal had moved away from the location.