Abalone Diver Fatally Attacked by Great Whites Near Coffin Bay

On February 17, 2011, a fatal shark attack occurred near Perforated Island off Coffin Bay on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula, claiming the life of an experienced abalone diver. The victim, 49 years old, was attacked by two great white sharks while surfacing from a diving operation to harvest abalone. The attack happened as the diver was returning to his boat. According to the boat's skipper who witnessed the incident, the diver was struck and subsequently pulled out to sea by both sharks. Marine experts characterized this double shark attack as extraordinarily rare, describing it as a "one in 10 million occurrence." The victim was known to be an advocate for shark safety measures, including shark shields and protective equipment for abalone divers, despite feeling secure during underwater operations. Immediate search and rescue operations were initiated but were hampered by fading daylight. Authorities, including police, SES, and fisheries officials, resumed the search the following morning but were unable to locate the victim's body. The body did not resurface after being taken by the sharks. The incident had a significant impact on the local abalone diving community and the broader industry in South Australia. The skipper experienced considerable trauma from witnessing the attack, affecting his ability to provide detailed information immediately afterward. Industry leaders expressed their devastation over the loss of an experienced colleague. The attack occurred in an area characterized by rough ocean conditions and known shark activity. In the weeks preceding the incident, authorities had noted an increase in shark sightings along the Lower Eyre Peninsula.