Incident Report
Spearfisher Bitten by Carpet Shark in Shallow Water
Rottnest Island, Western Australia·Australia
A 40-year-old experienced diver was attacked by a 1.8-meter carpet shark while spearfishing in knee-deep water off Rottnest Island. The shark bit his flipper and legs before he drove it away with a knife, sustaining moderate injuries to both thighs.
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Incident Profile
Circumstances
Environmental
Individual
Location
Description
On the evening of December 28, 1965, a spearfishing incident occurred at Bathurst Reef near Rottnest Island, Western Australia. The victim, a 40-year-old man with approximately 15 years of free-diving experience, was standing in knee-deep water when a carpet shark measuring approximately 1.8 meters in length attacked him. The shark initially fastened its teeth onto one of the man's swim fins. When he bent down to attempt to dislodge the shark, it released its grip momentarily before biting his legs. The shark subsequently bit the victim's left leg above the knee and his right thigh. According to witness accounts, the shark attempted to drag the man into deeper water during the encounter. The victim managed to beat the shark off using a knife, after which the animal released its grip and swam away. The man sustained fairly deep cuts on both legs, with tooth marks clearly visible to nursing sister Mrs. F. Smith, who assessed his injuries. The incident was reported by the victim's 16-year-old companion, Alan Bartlett of Cloverdale, who had temporarily left the water to bring ashore some freshly caught fish. Bartlett heard the man thrashing in the water and observed that the water had become clouded with blood. The victim declined to provide his name to authorities. This incident occurred during the first quarter moon phase and took place in the Indian Ocean.