Fatal Incident
Fatal shark attack on swimmer in Townsville, Australia
A man was fatally attacked by a shark while swimming near Townsville on November 10, 1916. The incident resulted in severe injuries from which he died shortly after the encounter.
Please take a moment to consider the human impact of this event on the victim and their loved ones. The data presented here documents real events that affected real people and families.
Why this is notable
Two separate fatal shark attacks occurred within hours of one another at the same location (Townsville, Queensland), constituting a rare double-fatality event on a single day.
Incident Profile
Circumstances
Environmental
Individual
Location
Description
On the morning of November 10, 1916, a fatal shark attack occurred at a beach near the Seaview Hotel in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. The victim, a male swimmer, entered the water around 6:00 AM for his routine morning swim in the Coral Sea. During the bathing activity, he was attacked by a shark of unidentified species. The attack resulted in catastrophic injuries, including the severing of one leg and severe lacerations to the groin. The victim died shortly after the incident. This attack was one of two fatal shark incidents that occurred in the Townsville area within hours of each other on the same day, underscoring the significant dangers posed by sharks in Australian waters during this period. The incident was documented in contemporary newspaper accounts and remains part of the historical record of shark-human interactions in Australia.