A man, believed to have been spearfishing, has been taken by a great white shark east of Albany. Source: Supplied
A 17-YEAR-old boy killed in a shark attack at Cheynes Beach, near Albany, was spearfishing with a teenage friend who shot at the predator.
Jay Muscat, of Albany,was an avid fisher whose family runs a small business in Albany. He was at Three Stripes Beach with a male friend of about the same age.
The attack, 70km east of Albany, occurred just before 12.20pm.
Department of Fisheries director Rick Fletcher said it was suspected it was a white shark because of the size of the injuries on the 17-year-old's leg.
"Based on the reports and the advice we had about the injury it appears that it was a very large shark, probably 4-5m and probably a white shark," Mr Fletcher said.
"It appears that the shark swam past one diver and bit the other on the leg which resulted in fatal injuries to the diver.
"It is possible that the shark was injured during the attack, therefore what we're going to do is do patrols on the beach as well.
"This is obviously an extremely tragic event for all the families involved and our sympathies go out to those particular families."
Mr Fletcher said the other diver saw the shark and fired a shot from his spear gun at the creature.
He said the divers had been spearfishing for some time before the incident and had caught fish which could have "potentially" attracted the shark.
The beaches around Cheynes Beach have been closed today and would remain closed tomorrow.
Drumlines are being deployed and if any shark of a comparable size — about 4m to 5m — is caught it would probably be destroyed.
The Department also has two vessels deployed in the area searching for the creature.
WA Police have made contact with the victim's family.
"Based on information we have been able to gather so far, it appears the deceased was diving and/or spear fishing in the area, with another person nearby," a police spokesman said.
"It is believed a shark approached both of them, and at that time the deceased appears to have received a shark bite injury.
"The second person is not believed to have received any serious injuries."
Friends and relatives of Jay Muscat have rallied after news broke of the teen's sudden death.
A sign informs holidaymakers that beaches are closed from 3 Stripes to Bluff Creek after a fatal shark attack today. Picture: #9newscomau Source: Supplied
Albany mayor Dennis Wellington told AAP the boy was attacked about 40m offshore.
"It's not a long way out, but Three Stripes is a popular spearfishing site," he said.
Albany City Council rangers have closed the beach until further notice.
WA Police will prepare a report for the coroner and are working closely with the Department of Fisheries.
First fatal this year
The shark attack at Cheynes Beach is the first in WA since Bunbury man Sean Pollard was attacked by a white pointer while surfing off an Esperance beach in October. Mr Pollard lost an arm and his other hand in the attack.
Cheynes Beach, as pictured recently by Beau Pearson, Ten News. Source: News Corp Australia
Today's attack is the first fatal shark attack since surfer Chris Boyd was mauled to death off Gracetown, in the South West in November 2013.
According to the State Government's Shark Smart website, no sharks have been seen or detected along the Great Southern coast for the last 30 days.
A worker at the local Cheynes Beach caravan park said sharks were not commonly seen in the area, except for a few bronze whalers.
It is peak season at the caravan park, which is currently at maximum capacity.
According to the State Government's Shark Smart website, no sharks have been seen or detected along the Great Southern coast for the last 30 days. Source: Supplied
In April last year a massive 4.1m great white shark was accidentally caught in commercial fishing nets at Cheynes Beach.
While the herring nets were set near Cheynes Beach the monster shark became entangled in the lines and was unable to escape, eventually drowning.
It was not discovered until the nets were pulled up the following morning.
A 4.1 metre great white which was accidentally trapped in herring nets at Cheynes Beach last April. Source: Supplied
Cheynes Beach fisherman Dumpy Wheatcroft said it was not unusual for white pointers to be seen during the herring season and usually if they got caught in the nets, they would chomp their way out.
Mr Wheatcroft said the great white, initially thought to be 4.4 metres long, was one of the biggest he had seen.
WA'S GRIM SHARK TOLL:
TODAY'S death at Cheynes Beach is believed to be the 12th fatal shark attack in WA waters since 2000.
November 23, 2013: 35-year-old Chris Boyd was killed while surfing the Umbies break off Gracetown.
-July 15, 2012: Surfer Ben Linden, 24, fatally mauled by a great white shark near Wedge Island, north of Perth.
-April 1, 2012: Father-of-two Peter Kurmann, 32, taken by a 4m white pointer shark after a morning dive off Geographe Bay with his brother.
-October 23, 2011: American George Thomas Wainwright, 32, died after a great white attacked him while scuba diving off Rottnest Island.
-October 10, 2011: Perth businessman Bryn Martin, 64, disappeared while swimming off Cottesloe Beach. His shredded swimming costume was later found.
-September 4, 2011: 21-year-old surfer Kyle Burden died in Bunker Bay after his body was ripped in half by a shark.
-August 17, 2010: Nick Edwards, 31, bled to death after being attacked while surfing in Gracetown.
-December 27, 2008: Fisherman Brian Guest, 51, was taken by a shark when he was snorkelling at Port Kennedy in Perth's south.
-March 19, 2005: Geoffrey Brazier, 26, attacked by a 6m shark, believed to be a great white, as he snorkelled near the Abrolhos Islands, off Geraldton, 500km north of Perth.
-July 10, 2004: Surfer Brad Smith, 29, is attacked by two sharks believed to be a great white and a bronze whaler while surfing a popular reef off Gracetown.
-November 6, 2000: Businessman and father-of-three Ken Crew, 49, died after his leg was torn off by what Fisheries officers believe was a white pointer shark up to 4m long at North Cottesloe beach.
●Are you staying at Cheynes Beach or do you have any information about today's incident? If so, you can email us at staff@perthnow.com.au
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