A 38-year-old man, Steven Mattaboni, married and father of two young girls, lost his life after being attacked by a shark during an underwater fishing trip. The diver had dived with a group of friends in the area about a kilometer from the coast of Horseshoe Reef, on Rottnest Island, near Perth, Australia: the other boys who were with him witnessed the dramatic scene, but were unable to do anything to save him.
The attack at sea
The tragedy occurred on the morning of Saturday 16 May, shortly after 10am local time: according to what was reconstructed by the Australian media, the 38-year-old was diving near the boat, at the end of the fishing trip, when he was attacked by a shark approximately 5 meters long, which grabbed him by the legs, biting him violently. The friends, who were on board the boat, immediately tried to help Steven, pulling him out of the water just as the shark had let go. Loaded on board, the 38-year-old was rushed to shore, while his friends called for help.
The rescue was useless
Once they arrived on the beach, the paramedics immediately began resuscitation maneuvers, patching up the serious wounds left by the bites. The operations continued for over 30 minutes, with the rescue efforts also requiring the intervention of a helicopter, but when the aircraft arrived on the island, there was nothing left to be done. Mattaboni died on the beach due to serious injuries to his lower limbs.
The 5 meter shark
As confirmed by the local authorities, immediately after the attack, a 5 meter white shark was spotted in the same area, which could be responsible for the attack: “The victim was on the surface at the time of the accident, about 20 meters from the boat – a local police spokesperson explained to the Australian media -. His friends actually witnessed the terrible event”.
Community in shock
The area remains under observation, with local authorities having banned marine activities in the affected area. The tragedy shocked the local community, where Mattaboni was well known for his activity as well as being president of one of the local sport fishing clubs. The man leaves behind his wife and two young daughters: “Our hearts are irreparably broken – said the woman -. He was truly special, a true gentleman”.