This is a list of fatal shark attacks in Australia. The Australian Shark-Incident Database includes 312 fatal shark attacks between 1791 and January 2026. Since 2000 there have been 59 confirmed fatal shark attacks in Australia, including 24 incidents since 2020.
The list below includes incidents that have not yet been confirmed by the Australian Shark Incident Database.
2020s
+ Date TimeState Area Site category Species Activity Victim Sex Age Injury ReferenceUIN 2026-09-1810:15WASorrento - Sorrento BeachCoastal - surf beachWhiteSwimmingGreg O'NeillMale63Body not recovered13062026-06-0611:20WAAlbany - Michaelmas IslandIsland - beachWhiteSpearfishingDaniel TurpinMale3513032026-05-2412:00QldGreat Barrier Reef - Hull HeadsKennedy ShoalCoastal - ReefBullSpearfishingMichael JenszMale39Head wound13022026-05-1610:00WARottnest Island - Horseshoe ReefIsland - open ocean reefWhiteSpearfishingSteven MattaboniMale38Major lacerations - lower legs13012026-01-1816:20NSWSydney Harbour - Vaucluse - Nielsen Park - Shark BeachEstuary - bayBullSwimming; Jumping off rocksNicolas (Nico) AnticMale12Major lacerations - legs12952025-11-2706:30NSWCrowdy Bay - Kylies BeachCoastal - surf beachBullSwimmingLivia MulheimFemale25Major lacerations12932025-09-0610:00NSWSydney - Long Reef BeachCoastal - surf beachWhiteSurfingMercury PsillakisMale57Leg and arm severed 12892025-03-1012:10WAEsperance - Wharton BeachCoastal - surf beachWhiteSurfingSteven PayneMale37Body not recovered12782025-02-0316:45QldMoreton Bay - Bribie Island - Woorim BeachCoastal - surf beachBullSwimmingCharlize ZmudaFemale17Injuries to upper body 12722025-01-0219:00SAAustralian Bight - Granites Beach Coastal - surf beachWhiteSurfing Lance Appleby Male26 Body not recovered12702024-12-2816:37QldKeppel Bay - Humpy IslandIsland - open oceanSpearfishingLuke WalfordMale40Major laceration - neck12692023-12-2813:30 SASpencer Gulf - Yorke Peninsula - Ethel BeachCoastal - surf beachWhiteSurfing Khai CowleyMale15 Leg bitten off 12502023-10-3110:20 SAAustralian Bight - Streaky BayCoastal - surf beachWhiteSurfing Tod GendleMale55 Body not recovered12412023-05-13 SAAustralian Bight - Eyre Peninsula - Walkers RocksCoastal - surf beachWhiteSurfing Simon Baccanello Male46 Remains not recovered 1232 2023-02-0415:00WASwan River - N FremantleRiverBullSwimming after jumping off jet skiStella BerryFemale16Major lacerations - leg12242022-02-16 16:35 NSWLittle Bay Beach, Sydney Coastal - bay to open oceanWhiteSwimmingSimon Nellist Male 35 Consumed 12032022-11-0610:00WAFremantle - Port BeachCoastalWhiteSwimmingPaul MillachipMale57Bitten in half1194 2021-09-05 11:45 NSW Coffs Harbour - Emerald Beach Coastal - surf beachWhite Surfing Timothy ThompsonMale 31 Multiple injuries 1190 2021-05-18 11:00NSWForster - Tuncurry BeachCoastal - surf beachWhiteSurfing Mark Sanguinetti Male 59 Leg injury 11822021-01-2117:00SAAustralian Bight - Eyre Peninsula - Walkers RocksCoastal - surf beachWhiteSnorkelingDuncan CrawMale32Major lacerations1169 2020-11-2208:45WABroome - Cable BeachCoastalBullSurfingCharles Cernobori Male55Bites to arm and thigh1164 2020-10-0916:00 WAEsperance - Wylie BayCoastal - bay to open oceanWhiteSurfingAndrew SharpeMale52Body not recovered1159 2020-09-08 17:00 Qld Gold Coast - Greenmount Beach CoastalWhiteSurfing Nick Slater Male 46 Leg injuries1155 2020-07-11 14:30 NSWNorthern Rivers - Wooli BeachCoastal - surf beachWhite Surfing Mani Hart-Deville Male 15 Legs injured 1150 2020-07-04 14:00 Qld Fraser Island - Indian HeadCoastal - open oceanWhalerSpearfishing Matthew Tratt Male 36 Lacerations - leg, foot1148 2020-06-07 10:00 NSWKingscliff - Casuarina Beach Coastal - ocean beachWhite Surfing Rob Pedretti Male 60 Thigh bitten 1143 2020-04-06QldNorth West Islandisland - open ocean reefSwimming Zachary Robba Male 23 Injuries to arm, leg, torso11382020-01-0513:00WAEsperance - Cull IslandIsland - open oceanWhiteDivingGary JohnsonMale57Right arm severed, body not recovered1132
2010s
+ Date TimeState Area Site category Species Activity Victim Sex Age Injury ReferenceUIN 2018-11-0517:30QldWhitsunday Islands - Cid HarbourCoastalSwimmingDaniel ChristidisMale33lacerations - leg, arm10972017-04-1716:00WAEsperance - Wylie BayCoastal - bay to open oceanWhiteSurfingLaeticia BrouwerFemale17Leg ripped off10652016-06-05 Late morningWAPerth - Mindarie - One Mile ReefPelagic - reefWhiteDivingDoreen CollyerFemale603 limbs removed10362016-05-31 DuskWAMandurah - Gearies BeachCoastal - surf beachWhiteSurfingBen GerringMale29Leg removed10342016-02-16QldKennedy ShoalWhiteDivingSteven FosterMale54Body not recovered2015-07-2507:00TasLachlan Point - Maria Island Coastal - bay to open oceanWhiteDivingDamian JohnsonMale46Major lacerations - torso, pelvic region 10082015-02-0909:55NSW Ballina - Shelly BeachCoastal - surf beachWhiteSurfingTadashi NakaharaMale41Legs severed9962014-12-3012:20WACheynes BeachCoastal - beach to open oceanWhiteSpearfishingJay MuscatMale17Multiple injuries9882014-12-1511:30QldPort Douglas - Rudder ReefIsland open ocean - reefTigerSpearfishingDaniel SmithMale18Major lacerations - arm, thigh9892014-09-0910:40NSWByron Bay - Clarkes BeachCoastal - surf beachWhiteSnorkellingPaul WilcoxMale50Major lacerations - thigh9782014-04-0308:50NSWSouth Coast - Tathra BeachCoastalWhiteSwimmingChristine ArmstrongFemale63Remains not recovered9692014-02-0812:00SAGulf St Vincent - Yorke Peninsula - Goldsmith BeachCoastalWhiteSpearfishing with bait fish Sam KellettMale28Remains not recovered 9652013-11-3014:00NSWCoffs - Campbells BeachCoastalTigerSurfing, in an area with whales presentZac YoungMale19Major lacerations - arm, torso, leg9622013-11-2309:00WAGracetown - Umbies BreakCoastal - surf beachWhiteSurfing, in an area with dolphins and baitfish presentChris BoydMale35Major lacerations - leg 9612012-07-1409:05WAWedge IslandCoastal - surf beachWhiteSurfingBen LindenMale24Remains not recovered 9442012-03-3109:30WABunbury - Stratham BeachCoastal - ocean beachWhiteDivingPeter KurmannMale33 9362011-10-2213:25WARottnest Island - Little Armstrong BayCoastal - surf beachWhiteDivingGeorge WainwrightMale32Major lacerations - torso 9222011-10-0908:10WAPerth - Cottesloe BeachCoastal - surf beachWhiteSwimmingBryn MartinMale64Eaten whole9202011-09-0413:26WADunsborough - Bunker Bay - The BoneyardsCoastal - surf beachWhiteSurfing, in an area with dolphins and seals presentKyle James BurdenMale21Major lacerations - leg 9192011-08-2919:30QldPalm Island - Challenger BayIsland open oceanTigerSwimming'Rooster'Male48Major lacerations - torso9182011-02-1718:20SAAustralian Bight - Coffin Bay - Perforated IslandIsland open oceanWhites - 2Diving, in an area with other sharks presentPeter ClarksonMale49Remains not recovered9122010-08-1708:05WAGracetown - Cowaramup Bay - South Point BeachCoastal - surf beachWhiteSurfing, in an area with sealsNicholas EdwardsMale31Leg severed 907
2000s
+ Date TimeState Area Site category Species Activity Victim Sex Age Injury ReferenceUIN 2008-12-2707:00WARockingham - Port Kennedy BeachCoastal - surf beachWhiteSnorkelingBrian GuestMale51Remains not recovered 8682008-04-0808:05NSWBallina - Lighthouse BeachCoastal - surf beachBullSurfingPeter EdmondsMale16Major lacerations - thigh, calf8602006-01-0717:15QldNorth Stradbroke Island - Amity PointCoastal - surf beachBullSwimmingSarah WhileyFemale21Major lacerations - leg, hand8282005-08-2416:10SAGulf St Vincent - Adelaide - Glenelg BeachCoastal - ocean beachWhiteDivingJarrod StehbensMale23Major laceration - torso8192005-03-1914:00WAHoutman Abrolhos - Pelsaert Island - Wreck PointIsland open oceanWhiteSnorkelingGeoffrey BrazierMale26Major laceration - torso8152004-12-1615:15SAGulf St Vincent - Adelaide - West BeachCoastal - beach to open oceanWhite - 2SurfingNick PetersonMale18Fully consumed8112004-12-1113:00QldPort Douglas - Opal ReefPelagic - reefTigerSpearfishingMark ThompsonMale38Major laceration - thigh 8102004-07-1014:10WAGracetown - Lefthanders near Margaret RiverCoastal - surf beachWhite - 2SurfingBradley SmithMale30Eaten whole 8042003-02-08MorningQldGold CoastRiverBullSwimming, in an area with Pinnipeds presentBob PurcellMale84Major lacerations - leg 7792002-12-1602:30QldLake Heron, Miami LakesRiverBullSwimmingBeau MartinMale23Major lacerations - torso, leg 7752002-04-3012:40SAAustralian Bight - Smoky Bay - near Saddle PointCoastalWhiteDiving for scallopsPaul BucklandMale23Major lacerations - leg7702000-11-0606:30WAPerth - Cottesloe BeachCoastal - surf beachWhiteSwimming, in an area with a seal presentKen CrewMale49Torso attacked 7492000-09-2513:00SAAustralian Bight - Eyre Peninsula - Elliston - BlacksCoastal - reefWhiteSurfing near a seal and dolphinsJevan WrightMale17Fully consumed7432000-09-2407:30SAAustralian Bight - Ceduna - Cactus BeachCoastal - reefWhiteSurfing, in an area with Pinnipeds presentCameron BayesMale25Fully consumed744
1990s
+ Date TimeState Area Site category Species Activity Victim Sex Age Injury ReferenceUIN 1999-05-2914:30SASpencer Gulf - Yorke Peninsula - Hardwicke Bay - Flahertys BeachCoastalWhiteBoarding or windsurfingTony DonoghueMale22Body not recovered7291998-06-2814:00SAAustralian Bight - S Neptune IslandCoastalWhiteSnorkeling, in an area with seals presentDoug ChesherMale26Leg injuries7231997-01-2018:00WAGeraldtonTigerwindsurfingWerner SchonhoferMale41Eaten whole 1995-09-1115:00WAHopetoun - Honeymoon IslandIsland open oceanWhiteDivingDavid Alan WeirMale29Eaten in half 6911993-11-2115:15WABroome - Roebuck BayCoastal - bay to open oceanTigerDivingRichard Peter BisleyMale276781993-06-0909:30NSWByron Bay - Julian RocksCoastal - surf beachWhiteDivingJohn FordMale31Consumed6771993-06-0510:55TasTenth Island - GeorgetownIsland open oceanWhiteDiving, in an area with seals and scuba diving presentTherese CartwrightFemale35Remains not recovered 6761992-10-0114:30QldMoreton Island - North PointCoastalWhiteSurfingMichael DochertyMale28 6721991-09-0815:00SAGulf St Vincent - Aldinga BeachCoastalWhiteDivingJonathon LeeMale19Major lacerations - torso6651990-04-0814:00QldTownsville - Dingo ReefIsland open ocean - reefTigerSnorkeling, freediving for trochusRobert BullenMale37Body not recovered 653
1980s