# Shark kills swimmer off Perth beach, kill order issued

> A 63-year-old man died after being attacked by a shark at Sorrento Beach on Friday morning, prompting authorities to order the animal destroyed if captured.
- Title: Shark kills swimmer off Perth beach, kill order issued
- Summary: A 63-year-old man died after being attacked by a shark at Sorrento Beach on Friday morning, prompting authorities to order the animal destroyed if captured…
- Keywords: shark attack, perth, western australia, sorrento beach, fatal attack, catch-and-kill order, jackie jarvis, fisheries, water safety, emergency response, news, world
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/sep/18/swimmer-dies-after-being-bitten-by-shark-off-popular-perth-beach
- Published: 2026-09-19T06:43:52+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: shark attack, perth, western australia, sorrento beach, fatal attack, catch-and-kill order, jackie jarvis, fisheries, water safety, emergency response, news, world
## Swimmer killed at Sorrento Beach
A 63-year-old man died after being bitten by a shark while swimming at Sorrento Beach in Perth on Friday morning around 10:30am. Emergency services conducted an extensive search but the body had not been recovered.
## Kill order authorized for shark
Western Australian fisheries minister Jackie Jarvis authorized the destruction of the shark if captured, saying it had been positively identified and posed an ongoing threat. Water police also requested the shark be captured to help recover coronial evidence.

> Given the shark had been positively identified, remained in the vicinity following a fatal attack and was considered to pose an ongoing threat, I authorised fisheries officers to destroy the shark if captured.
## Beaches closed, public warned
Nearby beaches were closed and locals were urged to stay out of the water until authorities declared it safe for swimming. Police and fisheries officials remained in the area searching for the shark.
## Witness accounts of the attack
A witness saw a pool of blood in the ocean and felt traumatized by how quickly the attack happened. The victim's friend, who was swimming nearby, made it back to shore but was inconsolable.

> I looked out to the ocean and I could see a pool of blood.
## Second shark attack in days
This fatality followed another shark attack on Monday at Glenfield Beach north of Geraldton, where a surfer was seriously injured but remained in stable condition at Geraldton Health Campus.
## Key takeaway

A fatal shark attack at a popular Perth beach led the Western Australian government to authorize the destruction of the identified shark, while nearby beaches were closed and the search continued.