A 46 year old male and his adult daughter departed Orford this morning (25/07/15) to go scallop diving in the Mercury Passage near Lachlan Island. The area is situated in state waters between Rheban and Maria Island.

The male was in the water and did not surface in the expected time frame. The female entered the water and followed the dive hose down to the point where she sighted a shark attacking her father.  The female returned to the vessel and set off a red flare. Several vessels went to her assistance.

The male was retrieved from the water but had been fatally injured.

The type of the large shark is unknown. The water depth was approximately 12 meters. As a result of the attack police utilised marine radio and media outlets to warn against people entering the water in that area. A police vessel patrolled the area today and will again patrol the area tomorrow.

Inspector Dave Wiss of Tasmania Police stated “it has been a tragic accident which has understandably shocked and traumatised the man’s family. Our main priority is assisting the family. We have ensured specialist trauma counsellors have been with them today”.

It has been 22 years since we last had a fatal shark attack in Tasmania.