Fisherman Killed in Shark Attack Off Australian Coast

A 35-year-old man has died after a shark attack while underwater fishing off Michaelmas Island, near Albany in Western Australia. The incident occurred on Saturday morning while the man was in the water with his family. He was brought ashore and treated by paramedics but succumbed to his injuries.

Authorities said a shark of unknown species, approximately 4.5 m long, was spotted in the area. Michaelmas Island is a nature reserve that receives few visitors.

The death is the third fatal shark attack in Australia in the past three weeks. On 24 May, a 39-year-old man died while fishing on the Great Barrier Reef. Ten days earlier, a 38-year-old man died after a shark attack off an island near Perth.

Conservation organizations say Australia records around 20 shark attacks a year, though most are not fatal. Significantly more people drown on Australian beaches each year.

(reuters, bak)