health
Shark kills spearfisher in front of friends in Australia: "Terrifying thing to see"
Updated on: May 24, 2026 / 7:35 PM EDT / CBS/AP
TL;DR
- A 39-year-old man was fatally attacked by a shark while spearfishing with friends on the Great Barrier Reef.
- The incident occurred at Kennedy Shoal off the Queensland coast, south of Cairns.
- The victim died from a critical head injury.
- Witnesses described the event as a "terrifying thing to see."
- This is Australia's second fatal shark attack in just over a week and the third for 2026.
- Bull sharks have been reported in the area, though the species involved in this attack is unknown.
- Australian scientists suggest crowded waters and rising ocean temperatures may influence shark behavior and migratory patterns.