Two fatal shark attacks in Australia: Queensland and Western Australia
Consensus Summary
Two fatal shark attacks in Australia have occurred within a week, leaving families and communities devastated. On May 24, 2026, a 39-year-old man died after being attacked by a shark at Kennedy Shoal, a popular fishing and diving spot near Hull River Heads in far north Queensland. Emergency services were called around 12pm, and despite efforts to revive him, he died from his injuries. The Queensland police described the death as sudden and non-suspicious. Earlier in the week, on May 16, 38-year-old Steven Mattaboni, a father of two from Perth, died after a shark attack at Rottnest Island while spearfishing with friends. The shark, reported to be 4 meters long, bit him on the legs, and despite CPR and medical intervention, he could not be saved. Both incidents have sparked discussions about shark safety and the rarity of such attacks in these regions. The Queensland attack occurred while the victim was fishing with a companion, and the species of shark involved remains unconfirmed, though bull, tiger, and great white sharks are known to inhabit the area.
ā Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- A 39-year-old man died after a shark attack at Kennedy Shoal, a reef about 50km off the Queensland coast, near Hull River Heads boat ramp on 2026-05-24 around 12pm.
- The Queensland police described the death as 'sudden and non-suspicious' and will prepare a report for the coroner.
- Steven Mattaboni, 38, died after a shark attack on 2026-05-16 at Rottnest Island near Perth, Western Australia, while spearfishing with friends.
- Steven Mattaboni was bitten on his legs by a large shark (reported as 4m long) at Horseshoe Reef, about 1km offshore from Rottnest Island.
- Steven Mattaboniās friends performed CPR on him after pulling him from the water, and paramedics and a trauma doctor from Melbourne tried to revive him, but he could not be saved.
- The shark attack in Queensland occurred at Kennedy Shoal, a popular recreational fishing and diving spot between Cairns and Townsville.
- The victim in Queensland was fishing (spear-fishing) with a second person when attacked.
- Bull sharks and tiger sharks are prevalent along the Great Barrier Reef, and great white sharks are known to inhabit the reef but are less common in warmer waters.
- Steven Mattaboni was a father of two daughters, aged two and four months, and a member of the Bluewater Freedivers club.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The man in Queensland was reportedly fishing at Kennedy Shoal, a shallow reef about 50km off the Queensland coast.
- A man died last weekend after being attacked by a shark at Rottnest Island near Perth, mentioned in the same article.
- In 2021, retired US navy diver Rick Bettua survived an attack by a bull shark on Britomart Reef, about 30km south of Kennedy Shoal.
- Hull Heads is described as a seaside town about 160km south of Cairns in Queensland's far north.
- Steven Mattaboni was friends with Liam Thomas, who described him as having 'no warning' before the attack and emphasized his love for the ocean and family.
- Steven Mattaboni was a premiership player of the Kingsley Football Club.
- The 39-year-old in Queensland was attacked while spear-fishing off Tully Heads with a second person.
- A first responder described the scene at Rottnest Island as 'chaotic' and noted a trauma doctor from Melbourne was holidaying on the island and helped with the rescue efforts.
- Steven Mattaboni was swimming back to his boat on the surface when a 4m shark emerged.
- Steven Mattaboniās wife, Shirene, described him as 'fiercely loyal, endlessly generous, and the kind of man who would give you the shirt off his back'.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian states the Queensland attack occurred 'south of Cairns', while ABC and NEWSCOMAU describe it as 'south of Cairns' but also mention Hull Heads is 160km or 120km south of Cairns, which may imply a discrepancy in exact location phrasing.
- The type of shark involved in the Queensland attack is not confirmed by multiple sources; Guardian mentions bull sharks, tiger sharks, and great whites as possibilities, but no source confirms the exact species.
Source Articles
Shark attack: man dies on Great Barrier Reef in far north Queensland
The 39-year-old was reportedly fishing at Kennedy Shoal between Cairns and Townsville when emergency services alerted about midday Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast 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. Continue reading...
Breaking: Man dies after shark attack in Far North Queensland
A 39-year-old man has died following a shark attack in Far North Queensland.
'Tragic incident': Man dead after shark attack at popular Queensland diving spot
The 39-year-old was attacked by a shark while spear-fishing off Tully Heads with a second person.
'No warning': Close friend of Rottnest shark attack victim pays tribute
The best friend of a Perth father killed by a shark off Rottnest Island says there was "absolutely no warning" before the attack.
āChaoticā: Horror of fatal shark attack
A first responder has described the tragic scene that unfolded on Rottnest Island following a shark attack that killed Perth father-of-two Steven Mattaboni.
Man killed in horror shark attack
The man died shortly after he was pulled from the water, with the tragedy coming just a week after another man in his 30s was killed by a shark.
Man killed in shark attack
Paramedics had been called ahead to meet the injured man after the incident on Sunday, but he succumbed to his injuries.