A swimmer has died after being attacked by a shark off Sorrento Beach in Perth, Western Australia, prompting authorities to close beaches across the surrounding area as emergency crews searched the waters. Emergency services were called to Sorrento Beach at about 10:15 a.m. on Friday after reports that a male swimmer had been bitten by a shark while in the water. Western Australia Police later confirmed that the swimmer had died as a result of the attack.
Police, water authorities and emergency crews launched an extensive search involving boats and helicopters. The incident occurred roughly 20 kilometres north of Perth’s central business district, at a beach popular with swimmers and other visitors. Witnesses on the beach described seeing blood in the water and said the incident unfolded very quickly. One witness told ABC that two men appeared to have been swimming together, but only one returned to shore. Other people on the beach watched emergency crews respond to the incident.
The shark species involved has not been confirmed by authorities. A member of the public had reported seeing a shark measuring about 2.5 metres in the area earlier in the day. Officials have not confirmed whether that shark was responsible for the attack.
Following the incident, authorities closed Sorrento Beach and other nearby beaches as a precaution. The City of Joondalup also closed beaches in the surrounding area, with the closures expected to remain in place while authorities assessed the situation and monitored shark activity. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is investigating the incident in cooperation with police and other authorities. Beach users have been urged to follow official warnings and remain away from areas affected by the closures. The attack was the second reported shark incident in Western Australia within the same week. Earlier, a surfer was seriously injured in a separate shark attack at Glenfield Beach, north of Geraldton.
The latest incident is also the fifth fatal shark attack recorded in Australia in 2026, according to reports. Previous fatal incidents this year have included attacks involving swimmers and divers in different parts of the country. Western Australian authorities have reminded members of the public to check current beach closures and shark activity alerts before entering the water. Shark patrol operations are also being expanded as the region moves toward the summer swimming season.
The incident has renewed attention on shark safety along Western Australia’s coastline, where large numbers of people regularly use beaches for swimming, surfing and other water activities.