Australia: 4.5-meter shark attacks and kills 35-year-old man

A fatal shark attack has occurred off the coast of Western Australia, claiming the life of a 35-year-old man who was spearfishing with his family. The incident took place on Saturday morning near Michaelmas Island, approximately 388 kilometers south of the state capital, Perth.

Paramedics provided first aid to the victim after he was brought ashore, but he succumbed to his injuries. Authorities reported that a shark, estimated to be 4.5 meters long, was sighted near the island, which is a nature reserve with limited visitor access.

This is the third fatal shark attack in Australia in as many weeks. On May 24, a 39-year-old man died after a shark attack while fishing in the Great Barrier Reef. This followed the death of a 38-year-old man who was attacked on an island near Perth just days earlier.

Shark attacks in Australia are relatively common, with around 20 incidents recorded annually, according to conservation groups. While most are not fatal, drowning remains a more frequent cause of death for people at the country's beaches.