Emergency Services Respond to Suspected Shark Attack at Sorrento Beach
PERTH — A major emergency operation is underway at Sorrento Beach in Perth’s north following reports of a suspected shark attack this morning.
St John WA confirmed they received a distress call at 10:15 am local time. Three medical crews were immediately dispatched to the scene, including one prioritized for urgent response, as authorities scrambled to secure the popular coastline.
The beach has been officially closed to the public, with WA Police maintaining a heavy presence along the shoreline. Officers have been observed standing guard near a red surfboard, while a police helicopter continues to hover over the area, scanning the water for further activity. A water police speedboat has also been deployed to patrol the vicinity of the incident.
Witnesses have described scenes of intense distress as the incident unfolded. Jacqui Rapaic, who was walking along the beach with a friend when the attack occurred, said she was left traumatized by what she saw.
“My friend said, ‘Jack, I think there’s been a shark attack,’ and I looked out to the ocean and I could see a pool of blood,” Ms. Rapaic told the ABC.
According to Ms. Rapaic, it appeared that two men had been swimming in the water when the encounter took place. She expressed deep concern as she observed that only one of the swimmers appeared to have returned to the shore. “I hugged onto my friend… we felt rather traumatized at that point,” she added. “It happened so quickly.”
Another bystander, Russell James, described hearing the shark alarm sound shortly before emergency vehicles arrived. “The helicopter was circling around and then the police boat came in,” Mr. James said. “There were a bunch of police and ambulances, and a few people standing down by the water’s edge near the groyne; there appeared to be a couple of surfboards or paddle boards down by the beach.”
The incident comes at a sensitive time for the region, as authorities have only just begun ramping up seasonal safety measures. Surf Lifesaving WA officially commenced its helicopter shark patrols on weekends just one week ago, in anticipation of the upcoming summer season. Earlier today, a separate report was made to authorities regarding a 2.5-metre shark spotted off the coast in the same vicinity.
Sorrento Beach, located roughly 20 kilometres north of the Perth CBD, is a major hub for families and swimmers, situated just south of the popular Hillarys marina. As the investigation continues, authorities are urging all beachgoers to exercise extreme caution and to heed the warnings of local lifeguards and police currently securing the site.
Updates are expected as emergency services conclude their search and rescue efforts.
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