Shark kills fisherman in Queensland

The dangers of swimming in tropical waters have been highlighted by the death of a fisherman who was attacked and killed by a shark in the sea off Australia. The Times reports that the 38-year-old, who was spear-fishing at the time, suffered fatal injuries when he was attacked by an unidentified shark just yards from where his boat was anchored. He suffered a severed artery in one of his legs and, after being pulled by the sea from two friends, died on the boat. The newspaper reports that the attack took place about 50 miles off the city of Cairns, on Australia’s east coast. It was the fifth fatal attack shark reported this year around the world and the seventh in Australian waters since 2000, The Times reports. While the species of shark has not yet been identified, marine biologists are reported as saying that it was probably a bull shark or a black whaler. Peter Beattie, premier of Queensland, is quoted as saying that the incident could possible affect the state’s tourism trade, but added that he was more concerned about the victim: “No one wants to see these sorts of tragedies, particularly to a young dad who’s only 38.” Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad Ltd