Australian Diver Killed by Shark

A diver was killed by a large shark off the west Australian coast yesterday in the second fatal attack there in less than a week.

University lecturer Doreen Ann Collyer, 60, was diving with a man at a popular dive spot in the northern Perth suburb of Mindarie when the shark attacked, police said. The attack took place five days after surfer Ben Gerring was attacked at Falcon, south of Perth.

The 43 year-old man who was with Mrs. Collyer said that he felt something go past him in the water, and although he didn’t see the shark at that stage, he decided to surface.

When he reached the surface, he noticed a commotion in the water. Another boat arrived and the fishermen on board pulled him out. They then saw the woman, who had suffered severe injuries.

The man was able to get back into his own boat and pull the woman from the water, but her wounds proved fatal.

The fishermen said the shark was larger than their 5.3-meter (17-foot) boat.

Beaches in the area were closed and the state fisheries department was attempting to find and trap the shark.

Last Tuesday a surfer’s leg was bitten off by a shark approximately 100 kilometers (60 miles) south of where yesterday’s attack occurred. Ben Gerring, 29, died from his injuries on Friday.

Following an inspection of Gerring’s damaged surfboard it was announced that a great white shark was responsible. The fisheries department trapped and killed a large shark last Wednesday, but don’t know if it was the same shark that was responsible for the attack on Gerring.

Source: www.12news.com, www.9news.com.au