Monstrous 10-foot bull shark spotted lurking in the water near where a 16-year-old girl was bitten to death a month ago
- A ten-foot-tall bull shark was sighted near Perth’s CBD
- The shark swam where a teen was fatally attacked last month
- WA introduces new safety measures after a tragedy
A deadly bull shark was spotted swimming between jetties near the same area where a young girl was fatally mauled by a similar beast earlier this year.
The ten-foot shark was sighted just offshore at Barrack Street Jetty in Perth and reported by an astute member of the public as locals remain vigilant after the death of 16-year-old Stella Berry in February.
Western Australia Surf Life Saving WA warned the public to avoid waters between the fourth and fifth jetties at Barrack St after receiving a call from someone who had just seen the shark.
The public was alerted at 3:30 pm yesterday after the eyewitness said they saw it a few hours earlier at 12:30 pm on the same day.
Year 11 student Stella Berry was attacked near the Fremantle road bridge last month.
The public was alerted at 3:30 p.m. yesterday to a bull shark sighting at 12:30 p.m. yesterday (stock image)
The ten-foot bull shark was sighted just offshore at Barrack Street Jetty in Perth and reported by a curious onlooker
Mrs. Berry was swimming with friends among dolphins in the Swan River before the bull shark clung to her leg.
Heroic bystanders jumped in to pull her out before paramedics tried to save the critically injured teen, but she couldn’t be saved.
It was the first shark-related fatality in the Swan River in a century.
The local government has responded to the recent sightings and Ms Berry’s death by tightening security measures in the area to prevent more tragedies in the future.
This includes a new shark barrier that will be installed at the Bicton Baths, a popular swimming area between where Mrs Berry was attacked and a spot where another swimmer was attacked in 2021.
Stella Berry was swimming with friends among dolphins before a bull shark fatally mauled her last month
The attack occurred in the Swan River, the area’s first fatality in 100 years
It will be the first river barrier in the state’s history, but Bicton and Melville city councils agreed it was the best thing to do after the latest attack, according to Fisheries Secretary Don Punch.
“It is complicated to put barriers in the river, we have to take into account the environment of the river, and also the fact that there is a lot of traffic on the river and there is a river flowing,” said Mr Punch.
Given these factors, the government said it plans to complete the barrier before next summer, with the price tag dropping between $200,000 and $400,000.
“Shark containment is a complex issue and our work is firmly based on evidence and science,” said Mr Punch.
The barrier is one of several new measures the government is considering, while other ideas are also on the table, including a shark tagging program.