Surfer Presumed Dead After Shark Attack at Wharton Beach in Western Australia

Steven Payne, a 37-year-old from Melbourne, was attacked by a large shark while surfing in chest-deep water; authorities have shifted the search to a recovery operation.

The attack occurred on Monday, March 10, at Wharton Beach near Esperance, a popular but remote surfing location in Western Australia.
Witnesses reported hearing screams and saw a shark attack Payne, leaving his surfboard with visible bite marks floating in the water.
Drone footage captured a large shark swimming away from a cloud of blood near the shore shortly after the incident.
Payne, who was five weeks into a six-month holiday with his partner and dog, is presumed dead after extensive search efforts failed to locate his body.
This marks the fourth fatal shark attack in the Esperance region since 2017, reigniting concerns about shark activity and safety measures in the area.