A peaceful day at Sorrento Beach near Perth turned into a tragedy when 63-year-old Greg O’Neill was attacked and killed by a great white shark while swimming about 50 feet from shore. Witnesses described the horrifying scene, while O’Neill’s family remembered him as a devoted father, husband and passionate swimmer.
Following the attack, Western Australian authorities took the rare step of issuing a catch-and-kill order for the shark believed to be responsible. The decision was controversial because great white sharks are protected, and experts questioned whether authorities could realistically identify the exact animal responsible for the attack.
Now, the operation has taken an unexpected turn. Authorities have called off the hunt, saying there was a significantly reduced chance of capturing the shark believed to have killed O’Neill. An expert from Macquarie University had previously compared the search to finding a “needle in a haystack” and suggested that shark-spotting drones could provide a more effective approach.
The tragedy was the second shark attack reported in Western Australia that week and the third fatal shark attack in the state this year, according to the source. O’Neill’s family said he loved the ocean and was known as a generous, witty and devoted family man. His loved ones are now left grieving a devastating loss.