A swimmer was killed in a shark attack off Western Australia, leading to beach closures and a search for the shark.

What it means

A 63-year-old swimmer, Greg O'Neill, was killed by a great white shark off Sorrento Beach in Perth, Western Australia, on 18 September 2026. The attack was witnessed by beachgoers, prompting the closure of several beaches and a rare government-issued kill order to find and destroy the shark.

Accuracy & sourcesGrounded

The claim is well-supported by multiple credible news outlets (BBC, ABC, Sydney Morning Herald, CBS News) citing official police statements and witness accounts. The reporting is consistent and comes from primary sources (WA Police, local authorities), making the core facts solid.

How new

The attack occurred on 18 September 2026 and was reported on 18-19 September 2026; it is genuinely new.

Go deeper

• ABC News Australia (Top) — first to publish