Fatal shark attack in Far North Queensland kills 39-year-old man at Kennedy Shoal
Consensus Summary
A 39-year-old man died on May 24, 2026, after a shark attack at Kennedy Shoal, a reef site between Cairns and Townsville in Far North Queensland. Emergency services were called just before 12pm to Hull River Heads boat ramp (160km south of Cairns) after reports of the attack, with the victim retrieved from the water and later pronounced dead from injuries. Queensland Police confirmed the death was sudden and non-suspicious, with a report being prepared for the coroner. The incident follows a similar fatal shark attack on May 16, 2026, at Rottnest Island near Perth, where a 38-year-old man also died after being bitten by a shark. While bull sharks and tiger sharks are common in the region, the specific type of shark involved in the Queensland attack remains unknown. The fatality underscores the rare but persistent risk of shark encounters in popular fishing and diving areas along the Great Barrier Reef.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- A 39-year-old man died after a shark attack near Kennedy Shoal, a reef site 50km off the Queensland coast between Cairns and Townsville
- Emergency services were called to Hull River Heads boat ramp (160km south of Cairns) just before 12pm on May 24, 2026, after reports of a shark attack
- The man was attacked while at Kennedy Shoal and retrieved from the water before dying from injuries at the boat ramp
- Queensland Police will prepare a report for the coroner regarding the 'sudden and non-suspicious death'
- The attack occurred on May 24, 2026, near Hull River Heads (also referred to as Hull Heads or Tully Heads)
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The man was attacked while at Kennedy Shoal, a reef site, before being retrieved from the water
- The location is described as Hull Heads, a seaside town 160km south of Cairns
- Kennedy Shoal is a shallow reef about 50km off the Queensland coast, popular for recreational fishing and diving
- Bull sharks and tiger sharks are prevalent along the Great Barrier Reef, while great white sharks are less common in warmer waters
- A man died last weekend (May 16, 2026) after a shark attack at Rottnest Island near Perth, WA
- The WA victim, 38-year-old Steven 'Mattas' Mattaboni, was attacked while out with friends and died after CPR attempts
- The man was taken by boat to a ramp near Tully Heads (120km south of Cairns) to waiting paramedics
- The attack occurred at 12:03pm on May 24, 2026, with paramedics called ahead to meet the injured man
- Steven 'Mattas' Mattaboni’s wife, Shirene, described him as 'fiercely loyal, endlessly generous' in a statement
- The WA attack involved a great white shark biting the victim on the leg
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian and Newscomau describe the location as Hull River Heads or Tully Heads (120km south of Cairns), while ABC states it is Hull Heads (160km south of Cairns)
- The Guardian specifies Kennedy Shoal is 50km off the coast, but ABC and Newscomau do not provide this exact distance
- Newscomau and Guardian mention the WA victim was 38, but Newscomau also refers to him as Steven 'Mattas' Mattaboni, while Guardian only provides the age
Source Articles
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.
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...
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.