A 63-year-old swimmer, Greg O’Neill, was killed by a suspected great white shark at Sorrento Beach near Perth, Western Australia, on Friday. Authorities issued a rare order to capture and kill the shark, while beaches across the region remain closed as searches continue. The death has renewed debate over how best to protect beachgoers.

The shark, estimated to be 2.5m long, was reportedly identified by water police after being spotted on Saturday. It is believed to be the first such order in Western Australia for a decade, and differs from the state’s broader 2014 cull, which sparked major protests. The attack was the second in Western Australia this week and the third fatal attack there this year; Australia has recorded five fatal shark attacks in 2026.