Incident Report
Wobbegong Encounter During Swimming in Western Australia
yallingup, south perth, Western Australia·Australia
A female swimmer was injured by a wobbegong shark in Western Australia in April 2008. The shark, approximately 0.8 meters in length, inflicted surface wounds to the calf, thigh, and pelvic region.
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Incident Profile
Individual
Location
Description
In April 2008, a swimming incident occurred in the Yallingup and South Perth coastal areas of Western Australia involving a wobbegong shark. The shark, measuring approximately 0.8 meters in length, was responsible for surface-level wounds sustained by a female swimmer. The injuries affected the calf, thigh, and pelvic regions. The incident was non-fatal, and the swimmer survived the encounter. Wobbegongs are benthic sharks commonly found in coastal waters around Australia and are generally docile bottom-dwellers, making unprovoked encounters relatively uncommon despite their presence in frequently swum areas.