A man has died after being attacked by a shark off the coast of north-eastern Queensland, in the second fatal shark incident reported in Australian waters in as many weeks.

Emergency services were called to a boat ramp on the Cassowary Coast, between Cairns and Townsville, just before noon on Sunday after reports that a 39-year-old man had been attacked while near an offshore reef.

Police Confirm Fatal Attack

Queensland Police said the man was retrieved from the water but later died. His identity has not been released.

Police said the death is being treated as sudden and non-suspicious, and a report will be prepared for the coroner.

Spearfishing Trip Turned Tragic

Police Inspector Elaine Burns said the man had travelled with three others on a private vessel to Kennedy Shoal, a shallow reef about 45km off the Queensland coast.

“We believe the man had been spearfishing when he was attacked and died from a critical head injury,” Burns told reporters.

She said another person who was in the water at the time managed to retrieve him, but he was declared dead when the group reached shore about an hour later.

“That’s quite a terrifying thing to see happen in front of you,” Burns said, adding that police were supporting the man’s companions.

Second Fatal Shark Attack In Two Weeks

The incident follows the death of a 38-year-old man who was killed while spearfishing near Perth, Western Australia, the previous Saturday. In that case, the man suffered bites to his lower legs and could not be revived.

Shark encounters are recorded more frequently in Australia than in many other parts of the world, although fatal attacks remain relatively uncommon.

According to the Australian Shark-Incident Database, there were four shark encounters across Australia in January, one of which was fatal.

Coastal Safety Measures Remain In Place

Popular swimming and surfing areas around Australia often use safety measures designed to reduce the risk of shark encounters, including monitoring systems and beach protection programs.

The latest death has renewed attention on the risks faced by spearfishers and other ocean users in remote offshore waters, where emergency response times can be longer and conditions more difficult.