An Australian diver has escaped an attack by a great white shark off Perth in Western Australia.

Australian media have reported how Brian Williams, 52, was hunting with a speargun and crayfish retrieval tool, in the middle of the day three kilometres off Perth's City Beach. He was with two other divers but had moved a short distance away from them when attacked.

The shark, estimated at 3.5m long, hit the diver from behind like "a truck", taking hold of his arm. Fortunately for Williams, the shark was clearly tasting rather than biting with force.

The shark dragged Williams a couple of metres before loosening its grip, perhaps to set up for another bite. A prod on the animal's nose with his speargun may have helped - although, said Williams, the contact felt like "hitting a lump of steel".

Williams managed to pull his bleeding arm free and flee into a rocky crevice, in which he sheltered as the shark circled and made a number of approaches. Williams' companions boldly headed towards the shark, which turned and swam away.

The injured man was helped back to the divers' fishing boat and given first aid en route to shore and on to hospital, where he was treated for lacerations to his arm.

Some commentators have put the shark's retreat down to an electronic shark repelling device worn by one of the divers. But a shark expert at the Department of Fisheries said it should not be assumed that the device had been instrumental, as research is still patchy in terms of species and conditions covered.

Shark attacks on scuba divers are extremely rare. When they do occur, they usually involve divers engaged in fishing activities. Most attacks occur to surfers, snorkellers and swimmers.

On 7 January, a 21-year-old swimmer lost her life after being attacked close to a beach near Brisbane, in Queensland. The attack, which occurred in murky conditions late in the day, was thought to have been carried out by bull sharks.

Related links
Bull sharks blamed for swimmer's death
Global Shark Attack File
International Shark Attack File


News Index Page