Man killed after shark bit him on the head at Australia’s Great Barrier Reef

It’s the second fatal shark attack in just a week (Picture: AP)

A spearfisher has been fatally mauled on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia’s second deadly shark attack in just over a week,police said.

The 39-year-old man was with three friends diving and fishing from a boat at Kennedy Shoal off the Queensland state coast,south of Cairns,on Sunday when he was attacked.

Police Inspector Elaine Burns said: ‘The man had been spearfishing when he was attacked and died from a critical head injury.’

The unnamed victim,who lived in Cairns,was brought by boat to the town of Hull Heads,where paramedics were waiting.

He had ‘sustained injuries not compatible with life’,an ambulance service statement said.

Kennedy Shoal is a shallow coral reef popular with recreational fishers. Divers are also attracted to the Lady Bowen,a 19th-century shipwreck.

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Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens.Kennedy Shoal is popular with spearfishers (Picture: Metro)Bull sharks had been seen in the area before the attack,according to reports.A shark fatally mauled spearfisher Steve Mattabonni on May 16 at a coral reef off Rottnest Island,near the south-west coast of Western Australia.The 38-year-old Perth resident was taken by boat to the island,where paramedics were unable to resuscitate him.It is thought the attack was carried out by a 16ft white shark.The latest death is Australia’s third shark fatality in 2026. Nico Antic,12,died in hospital days after he was attacked by a suspected bull shark off a Sydney beach on January 18.Steve Mattabonni was rushed to hospital but could not be saved (Picture: Social Media)Nico suffered serious injuries to both of his legs and was dragged out of the water and onto some nearby rocks by other children,but sadly died.His family said: ‘Nico was a happy,friendly,and sporty young boy with the most kind and generous spirit. He was always full of life and that’s how we’ll remember him.‘We would like to sincerely thank the first responders and the teams at Sydney Children’s Hospital,Randwick,for everything they did to care for Nico.’Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at .For more stories like this,check our news page.