Police say surfer ‘taken by shark' in Western Australia
Australian police have confirmed that a surfer who went missing was 'taken by a shark' after search and rescue teams recovered a surfboard scarred with 'bite marks' from the area of the attack.
The victim – identified by Australian media as 37-year-old Steven Payne – was mauled by a shark while surfing at Wharton beach in a remote area of Western Australia, police said late on Tuesday.
It marks Australia's fourth reported fatal shark attack in recent months.
'I can confirm that our search is a recovery, not a rescue,' Western Australia Police Force Senior Sergeant Christopher Taylor said, noting that the surfer's body has not been recovered.
'A surfboard with evidence of bite marks was recovered from the water,' Western Australia Police said in a separate statement on Tuesday.
According to media reports, a shark was spotted just moments before the attack in the water off Wharton beach and screams were heard coming from the area where the man was surfing at about midday.
Australia's 7News network said the victim was in chest-deep water about 50 metres (164 feet) from the shore with two other surfers when he was attacked. Police said the other surfers were unable to do anything to help.
In February, a shark killed a 17-year-old girl swimming off an eastern Australian island, while a 28-year-old surfer was fatally bitten in South Australia a month earlier.
On December 28, a shark fatally bit a 40-year-old man in the neck as he was spearfishing off Queensland.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Qatar Tribune
15-05-2025
- Qatar Tribune
Juror removed from mushroom lunch murder trial in Australia
Agencies Sydney A juror in the trial of an Australian woman accused of killing three relatives by feeding them poisonous mushrooms has been removed for possible misconduct. Erin Patterson - who has pleaded not guilty - is on trial for the murder of three people and the attempted murder of another, after they ate lunch at her home in July 2023. The male juror was discharged on Thursday after the judge found there was a 'reasonable possibility' he had discussed the case with family and friends. The judge told the court there was no definitive evidence that the man had discussed the trial with outsiders, but reminded the remaining jurors they should only talk about the case 'in the privacy of the jury room'. Justice Christopher Beale also told the jury that confidential juror discussions were 'vital to the administration of justice'. Fifteen jurors - three more than usual - were selected for the trial, which began a fortnight ago in Victoria and was expected to last six weeks. After the court has heard all the evidence, the jury will be reduced to a final 12 people who will deliberate over the verdict. Prosecutors allege Patterson 'deliberately poisoned' her guests 'with murderous intent', after inviting them for lunch 'on the pretence she'd been diagnosed with cancer'. Patterson's defence team says it was a 'terrible accident', and that she lied to police and disposed of evidence because she 'panicked' after unintentionally serving poison to family members she loved.
Al Jazeera
06-05-2025
- Al Jazeera
Sole survivor of deadly mushroom lunch testifies at Australian murder trial
Erin Patterson, 50, is on trial for allegedly murdering three people with poisonous mushroom-laced beef wellingtons. An Australian woman accused of murdering three of her former in-laws with poisonous mushroom-laced beef wellingtons refused offers of help serving the dish, the sole survivor of the deadly lunch has told a court. Erin Patterson, 50, is on trial for the alleged murder of her estranged husband's parents, Don and Gail Patterson, and his aunt, Heather Wilkinson, in a case that has captivated Australia and generated headlines worldwide. Patterson is also charged with the attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson, Heather's husband and the only surviving guest of the lunch served at Patterson's home in Victoria on July 29, 2023. Patterson has pleaded not guilty to all charges, with her lawyers arguing that she panicked after unintentionally serving the toxic mushrooms to her relatives in a 'terrible accident'. Speaking on day six of the trial, Ian Wilkinson said Patterson had appeared 'reluctant' for her guests to go into the pantry. 'Both Heather and Gail were offering to help plate up the food,' Wilkinson told the jury at the Latrobe Valley Law Courts in Morwell, about 150km (93 miles) southeast of Melbourne. Advertisement 'The offer was rejected and Erin plated.' Wilkinson said he and his wife experienced vomiting and diarrhoea that night but had dismissed the symptoms as gastroenteritis. The 71-year-old church pastor described Patterson as an acquaintance and said their relationship had been 'friendly' and 'amicable', though lacking 'depth'. 'She just seemed like an ordinary person,' he said. Sign up for Al Jazeera Breaking News Alert Get real-time breaking news alerts and stay up-to-date with the most important headlines from around the globe. Subscribe Your subscription failed. Please try again. Please check your email to confirm your subscription By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy protected by reCAPTCHA The trial, which is expected to last six weeks, continues.
Al Jazeera
29-04-2025
- Al Jazeera
Australia opens mushroom murder trial
The trial of a woman accused of murdering three elderly people after serving them poisonous mushrooms for lunch has begun in Australia. Erin Patterson, 50, faces trial by jury at Latrobe Valley Magistrates' Court in the state of Victoria in southeastern Australia, after she allegedly served up Beef Wellington laced with toxic mushrooms to four guests – including her estranged in-laws – in 2023. Three of the quartet did not survive and Patterson is charged with the murders of her mother-in-law Gail Patterson, father-in-law Donald Patterson, and Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson. Prosecutors have dropped charges regarding the attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson, Heather's husband, who recovered after nearly two months in hospital in Leongatha, a town of about 6,000 people some 135km (85 miles) from Melbourne. Patterson has pleaded not guilty on all counts. Jury selection began at the court on Tuesday. Opening arguments in the case, which has gripped Australia and made headlines across the world, are expected to begin on Wednesday morning. The case has generated a string of podcasts and even a television documentary series on Australian streaming service Stan. Six seats in the courtroom reserved for media are being allocated in a daily ballot. Dozens more are expected to watch proceedings in an overflow room set up at the court. While the court is open to the public, the case will not be televised. The trial is expected to run for five to six weeks. Victoria's Supreme Court has imposed strict guidelines on reporting about the case to ensure a fair trial.
