Boy’s death in Ethel Wreck Beach shark attack SA’s third in one year

The tragedy in the waters off Yorke Peninsula comes after SA’s fifth shark attack in just one year.

The death of a young tourist off a popular tourist beach on SA’s Yorke Peninsula marks the third fatal attack in the state’s waters this year, and the 17th since the mid-1970s.

The boy, believed to be just 14, was fatally attacked off Ethel Wreck Beach just before 1.30pm on Thursday.

He was the fifth person attacked this year and the third to die of his injuries.

School teacher Simon Baccanello died in May after he was attacked near Elliston on the Eyre Peninsula, while surfer Tod Gendle was taken by a 4.2m shark near Streaky Bay in October.

Bridgette O’Shannessy, 32, survived being bitten in the face at Port Noarlunga in November while South East grandmother Pam Cook suffered leg injuries when she was bitten at Beachport in October.

However, in the nearly 50 years before 2023, just 14 shark fatalities had been recorded in the state’s waters.

FATAL SHARK ATTACKS IN SA

October 31, 2023: Surfer Tod Gendle was attacked and killed by a 4.2m great white near Granite Rock, close to Streaky Bay

May 13, 2023: High school teacher Simon Baccanello was killed by a great white shark near Elliston

February 8, 2014: Spearfisherman and high school teacher Sam Kellett taken off Goldsmith Beach, Yorke Peninsula

February 17, 2011: Abalone diver Peter Clarkson killed by two great whites at Perforated Island, near Coffin Bay August 24, 2005: Diver Jarrod Stehbens taken by a great white at Glenelg

December 16, 2004: Nick Peterson taken while towing behind a boat on a surfboard at West Beach

April 30, 2002: Scallop diver Paul Buckland killed by a great white at Smoky Bay, Eyre Peninsula

Shark Attack Victim and Elliston Area School teacher Simon Baccanello. Picture:Elliston Area School

Shark attack victim Tod Gendle. Picture: Supplied by family

September 25, 2000: Jevan Wright, 17, taken by a great white while surfing at Blacks, Elliston

September 24, 2000: Cameron Bayes killed by a great white while surfing at Cactus, near Penong

May 29, 1999: Windsurfer Tony Donoghue believed to have been taken by a shark at Hardwicke Bay, Yorke Peninsula

June 28, 1998: Doug Chesher fatally attacked while free diving for abalone at Neptune Island, south of Port Lincoln

September 8, 1991: Jonathon Lee killed by a great white while scuba diving at Snapper Point

March 9, 1989: Matthew Foale killed by a shark while surfing at Waitpinga

September 18, 1987: Scuba diver Terrance Gibson killed at Merino Rocks, in Adelaide’s south

March 3, 1985: Shirley Durdin killed by a shark while snorkelling for scallops at Wiseman’s Beach, near Tumby Bay

February 10, 1975: Wade Shipard, 12, killed while swimming at Point Sinclair, near Penong

January 19, 1975: David Barrowman taken by a shark while surfing at Almonta, near Coffin Bay

January 9, 1974: Terry Manuel killed while diving for abalone near Streaky Bay