Shark attack: man dies on Great Barrier Reef in far north Queensland

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The 39-year-old was reportedly fishing at Kennedy Shoal between Cairns and Townsville when emergency services alerted about midday

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A man has died after a shark attack on the Great Barrier Reef south of Cairns.

The 39-year-old had reportedly been fishing at Kennedy Shoal, a shallow reef about 50km off the Queensland coast, between Cairns and Townsville.

The area is popular for recreational fishing and diving.

Emergency services were alerted about midday on Sunday and the man was taken back to the Hull River Heads boat ramp, near the town of Tully, in a critical condition.

He died from his injuries soon after being brought ashore.

Queensland police said it would prepare a report 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.”

Shark attacks are infrequent but have occurred in reefs and shoals along the Queensland coast. In 2021, retired US navy diver Rick Bettua survived an attack by a bull shark on Britomart Reef, which is about 30km south of Kennedy Shoal.

It was not yet known what type of shark was involved in Sunday’s fatality.

Bull sharks and tiger sharks are known to be prevalent along the Great Barrier Reef. Great White Sharks are also known to inhabit the reef, but are less common in warmer waters.

A man died last weekend after being attacked by a shark at Rottnest Island near Perth. The 38-year-old was treated at the scene on Saturday but could not be revived.

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