Twice In One Day: Second Shark Attack In Western Australia

Earlier this morning a 37 year old man was attacked at Cobblestones near Gracetown in Western Australia. This afternoon, the unthinkable happened.

At around 3pm local time, a 41-year old Denmark surfer has also been attacked by what is being reported as a 4-metre Great White at Lefties. 

A 4-metre Great White was also spotted by Surf Life Saving Officials shortly after the initial attack at Cobblestones.

The second attack happened at Lefthanders, another quality wave in the Gracetown region within a few kilometres of the first attack this morning at Cobbles. According to ‘WA Today’, the man who was bitten did not realise the beach was closed and reports seeing the 4-metre shark approach him just before it attacked. 

The surfer who suffered the attack got off lucky in comparison to his board and the surfer in the first attack. Photo. ABC/Michael Stamp

The man was being treated on site for the minor injuries he sustained. Thankfully, these injuries were significantly less than those suffered by the surfer in this morning’s attack.

Due to the similarities between earlier shark sightings and this afternoon’s attack, questions are now being raised as to the possibility that this is the same shark striking twice. 

A whale carcass was also found at Lefthanders this morning, surfers were warned this may attract sharks closer towards shore and it appears this was likely the case. 

Shark attacks are all too common in Western Australia and these two attacks today merely add to the ongoing conversation surrounding shark control and monitoring techniques; a topic which we’re sure will be heavily discussed in the coming weeks. 

Already the West Australian Opposition Leader, Dr Mike Nahan put the word out calling for immediate action, although he doesn’t allude to what kind:

“West Australians understand human lives must be prioritised over sharks, it is a failure of leadership from Mark McGowan [the WA Premier] if he doesn’t act now.”

The Margaret River Pro has also been called off for tomorrow, however, this is due to a lack of forecasted swell rather than the two shark attacks which occurred today. 

A shot of the whale carcass beached at Lefthanders, the site of the second attack. Photo. Gian De Poloni/ABC News