Melbourne Surfer Presumed Dead After Shark Attack in Western Australia

Steven Payne, 37, was attacked by a shark while surfing at Wharton Beach near Esperance during a six-month trip with his partner.

Steven Payne, a 37-year-old marketing director from Melbourne, was attacked by a shark on Monday while surfing in chest-deep water at Wharton Beach, near Esperance, Western Australia.
Witnesses, including Payne's partner, saw the attack, which lasted several minutes, and drone footage captured a shark swimming away from a cloud of blood near the shore.
Authorities recovered Payne's surfboard with bite marks but have not located his body despite extensive search efforts involving police, Marine Rescue WA, and emergency services.
Payne's presumed death marks the fourth fatal shark attack in the Esperance area since 2017, a region known for frequent shark activity and previous incidents involving great white sharks.
Local residents and safety advocates are calling for stronger measures to mitigate shark risks, including enhanced tagging and monitoring programs, as the beach remains temporarily closed.