Snorkeller Bitten by Tiger Shark at Coral Bay, Western Australia

On January 19, 2012, a shark incident occurred at The Lagoon, a popular snorkelling destination north of Coral Bay in Western Australia's northwest region. A 26-year-old male snorkeller was bitten by a tiger shark estimated at three metres in length during an unprovoked encounter at approximately 2 p.m. local time. The victim sustained moderate lacerations to his right forearm, including damage to tendons. Despite the severity of the wound, the injury was not considered life-threatening, and the man survived the attack. Local authorities responded promptly to the incident. Officers from the Department of Fisheries patrolled the beach while Department of Environment and Conservation staff conducted water surveys by boat to assess potential ongoing risks. The beach was subsequently closed until the following afternoon pending further evaluation. The attack proved shocking to the local diving and tourism community. Graham Murphy, an experienced tour guide with over 14 years operating in the area, characterized the incident as isolated and expressed confidence that it would not significantly impact tourism. He noted that while shark sightings were relatively common in the region's waters, attacks remained exceptionally rare occurrences among the established tour operator community. This incident occurred just one day after another shark attack near Newcastle in New South Wales, drawing broader attention to shark safety along Australia's coasts during that period. Despite the unsettling encounter, local operators maintained that shark incidents at Coral Bay were not a significant concern for visitors and staff.