A man spearfishing with friends was killed by a shark on the Great Barrier Reef on Sunday. The incident occurred at Kennedy Shoal off the Queensland state coast south of Cairns, where the victim was attacked while diving from a boat. Police Inspector Elaine Burns stated that the 39-year-old victim died from critical head injuries after being pulled from the water by one of his friends who witnessed the attack.
The unidentified victim, a Cairns resident, was brought to Hull Heads for medical treatment but succumbed to his injuries. Kennedy Shoal is known for its shallow coral reef and popular with recreational fishers, including the Lady Bowen shipwreck. Police suspect bull sharks were involved in the attack, as they had been sighted in the area previously.
This marks Australia’s second fatal shark attack in just over a week, following the death of Steve Mattabonni on May 16 at a coral reef off Rottnest Island. The latest fatality is the third for 2026 in Australia, highlighting an increase in shark-related incidents nationwide.