An inquest into the death of a man killed by a shark in waist-deep water heard he made the fateful decision to not use a deterrent device before surfing on Western Australia’s south coast earlier this year.
Melbourne man Steven Payne, 37, was just five weeks into a six-month holiday around Australia when he was attacked close to the shore at Wharton Beach, near Esperance, on March 10.
Melbourne surfer Steven Payne was killed by a shark near Esperance in March. An inquest has heard he decided against using a shark deterrant on the occasion.
A drone operated by a tourist inadvertently filmed the shark attacking Payne from the rear, before he was dragged under “blood-stained water”.
Payne’s brother Matthew attended the inquest on Tuesday before Coroner Sarah Linton, who heard details of the attack.
The coroner heard Payne was a keen surfer who had previously been cautious about the possibility of shark attacks and used deterrent devices while in the water.
“A few days prior [to the attack], the couple visited Granites Beach, South Australia with the intent of surfing,” Senior Constable Assisting the Coroner Craig Robertson told the court.
“They were aware of a fatal shark attack at the location on January 2, 2025 and following speaking with locals they ultimately decided not to enter the water.
“[The couple] had discussed wearing [shark deterrents] prior to their visit to Granites Beach.
“Unfortunately, they thought after leaving South Australian waters it would be safe to enter the water without them.”
Robertson said the couple drove through to WA’s south coast on March 9, and arrived at Wharton Beach just after 10am on March 10.
Payne entered the water to surf, while his partner stayed on the beach and read.
About an hour later, Payne’s partner said she had “glanced up and saw a large commotion in the water approximately 60 metres offshore”.
“It took her a few seconds to realise she was witnessing a shark attacking a surfer,” Robinson said.
“She ran to the shore shouting to alert others of the shark’s presence, but did not think that it was Steven being attacked, as the surfboard she could see looked too short to be his.
“[She] then realised that the commotion was where she had last seen Steven and the victim of the attack was wearing the same distinctive sun hat that he wore.
“From what she witnessed, [she] immediately knew that Steven was dead.”
A tourist happened to be filming the beach area at the time of the attack, and captured parts of it on camera.
The details of the footage are unknown, but investigators said the shark could be seen “attacking from the rear” before Payne disappeared in a “large circle of bloodstained water that surrounded them”.
Harriet Collins, from Esperance Police, viewed the footage as a first responder, and said it was clear Payne’s injuries were “incompatible with life”.
“It was a recovery mission, not a rescue,” she said.
Wharton Beach near Esperance was closed following the shark attack in March.Credit: 9 News Perth
Collins said police began a grid search for Payne, and a member of the public handed her part of his surfboard, which had a “damaged” nose.
Water police conducted the search, but it was ultimately decided it was “too risky” to put divers into the water for a full recovery mission.
Only more pieces of Payne’s surfboard were found, as well as his distinctive surf hat and his wetsuit.
A Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development scientist determined the shark that had attacked Payne was likely between 3.2 and 3.5 metres in length, and DNA determined it was a great white shark.
Robinson said the loss of Payne – known as a gentle giant among friends and family – had been felt acutely.
“[Payne’s partner] made it very clear her and Steven do not support shark culling,” he said.
Linton indicated she would likely determine Payne died accidentally, and was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt he was deceased.
She will hand down her findings at a later date.
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