WA surfer dies from shark bite

FOR the third time in the past decade the close- knit community of Gracetown, about 270km south of Perth, has been left reeling from the shock of a fatal shark attack.

A 35-year-old man was killed instantly yesterday when he was mauled by a shark while surfing alone at popular break ‘‘Umbies’’.

Surfer Ryan Scanlon said he was about to paddle out into the water when he witnessed the attack.

‘‘I ran up the beach and called police,’’ he said.

‘‘There was a guy with me. He’s an anaesthetist and he pronounced the guy dead at 9.05am.

‘‘I saw him wash up. He was missing his left arm and flesh off the right leg.

‘‘The shark bit him and held him for about a minute. He was dead before the shark let go.’’

The fatality came during a weekend when the SouthWest Region was meant to be celebrating one of its top tourist events — the annual Margaret River Gourmet Escape.

Hundreds of Year 12 students are also in the region celebrating the end of their high school education.

Press from all over the world were invited to the food and wine festival, but sadly they will again be focusing on the dangers lurking off our coast.

Police and St John Ambulance were called to the Umbilical Cord surf break, south of Gracetown, shortly after 9am yesterday following reports of a shark attack.

The victim’s girlfriend arrived at noon accompanied by a friend and emotional scenes followed as police told her the devastating news.

A hunt for the shark was launched just hours after the attack.

Margaret River Police Acting Sergeant Norm Giocas said officers been unable to contact the man’s family, who they believe are currently overseas.