Australia was the deadliest nation for shark attacks last year.
In its annual report, the University of Florida’s International Shark Attack File said there were six unprovoked fatal attacks in Australia, three in the US and one in the Caribbean.
It comes as a New Zealander involved in a shark incident died off Queensland.
The report said there were an additional 11 shark attacks that did not prove fatal.
Globally it is the deadliest year since 2013, despite a drop in total number of shark attacks.
The number of fatalities in Australia was a surprise.
"Australians are not naive when it comes to the inherent dangers of surfing and swimming. "So I was surprised that the number was as high as it was this year," said Gavin Naylor, Director of the Florida Museum of Natural History’s shark research program.
The fatalities were spread around the coastline with two in NSW, two in Queensland, and two occurring in Western Australia.
Kiwi Duncan Craw is believed to have been attacked by a shark in Port MacDonnell, South Australia.
He had gone missing in the water last week.
Although he was thought to have been mauled by a shark, health officials believe he had a ‘medical episode’ in the water and had already died.
Written by Ray Montgomery, Asia Editor
