‘Revenge killing’: Australia hunts gigantic shark blamed for killing diver and biting leg off surfer
Western Australian government will deploy capture gear to haul in what they believe is a six-metre great white shark that poses “a serious threat to public safety”.
A hunt was underway on Monday for a monster six-metre shark blamed for a fatal attack on a diver in western Australia, despite allegations it amounted to a “revenge killing”.
The woman, 60, was fatally mauled 1km offshore from Perth on Sunday, by a shark described by witnesses as bigger than their 5.3-metre boat.
We can either let it expire on the line or we can use a firearm to destroy it ... we will be using a firearm
A surfer also succumbed to his injuries on Friday after his leg was bitten off by a shark along the same coastline last week.
The Western Australian fisheries department said it would deploy “capture gear” to haul in what they believe is a great white shark that poses “a serious threat to public safety”.
Fisheries official Tony Cappelluti said if a shark matching the description of the one that attacked the diver was captured, it was “highly likely we will take the decision to destroy it in the interests of public safety”.
“We have two methods ... we can either let it expire on the line or we can use a firearm to destroy it,” he said. “In this instance today, we will be using a firearm.”