Western Australia issues rare shark kill order after fatal attack on Greg O'Neill

Greg O’Neill, a 38‑year‑old local who was described by his family as “someone who loved the ocean,” went missing after a shark attack on a popular Perth beach on Tuesday afternoon. Witnesses reported seeing the swimmer struggle before a large great‑white shark surfaced nearby, prompting emergency services to launch a coordinated search operation. Police, the Western Australian Department of Fire and Emergency Services and marine rescue teams deployed patrol boats, aerial drones and helicopters to scour the shoreline and surrounding waters for both the victim and the animal involved.

The search, which has been intensified with additional resources from neighboring jurisdictions, is expected to continue through the weekend as authorities aim to locate O’Neill’s body and assess the shark’s whereabouts. Officials have urged beachgoers to avoid the area and to report any sightings of the shark, while the family has requested privacy and expressed gratitude for the community’s support. No further injuries have been reported, and investigators are reviewing the incident to determine whether any safety measures need to be revised for the region’s coastal waters.