Man dies in shark attack on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef

The 39-year-old was said to have been fishing before the attack.

The 39-year-old was believed to have been fishing in the area of Kennedy Shoal, a popular recreational fishing and diving reef around 50km off the coast of Queensland.

Emergency services were alerted around 12pm on Sunday and the man was taken back to the Hull River Heads boat ramp, but died from his injuries shortly after.

Authorities in Queensland said a report would be prepared for the coroner 'following the sudden and non-suspicious death of a 39-year-old man' in the Cassowary Coast area.

“Emergency services were called to Hull River Heads boat ramp just before 12pm, following reports a man had been attacked by a shark while out at Kennedy Shoal. The man was retrieved from the water and died from his injuries.”

While shark attacks are uncommon, they have happened previously in reefs and shoals along the Queensland coast.

Retired US navy diver, Rick Bettua, survived an attack by a bull shark on Britomart Reef, about 30km south of Kennedy Shoal, in 2021.

It has not been reported what type of shark was involved in this incident.