A “devoted” father and grandfather-to-be was killed by a shark on Friday while swimming at Sorrento Beach in Western Australia. Greg O’Neill, 63, died in front of horrified beachgoers in the northern suburbs of Perth.
A resident named Ryan Rowe saw the attack on O’Neill and arrived at the beach soon after it happened.
The West Australian newspaper reported on “I couldn’t believe there was that much blood (that had) come out of a human body,” Rowe’s remarks.
The Family’s Statement
O’Neill’s family released a statement to ABC News Australia after his death.
“Our family is deeply shocked and devastated by the terrible tragedy that took the life of father, grandfather-to-be, brother, uncle, husband and friend, Greg James O’Neill,” they said.
The family added the phrase “He was a generous, devoted family man that gave his children so much love, care and opportunity. Greg loved the ocean and was known as a passionate swimmer, sports lover, dedicated worker and an all round generous, witty guy,”.
“The kind thoughts and support from everyone who has reached out are deeply appreciated.”
The Minister’s Decision
The fisheries minister, Jackie Jarvis, responded to the attack by demanding that great white sharks be caught and killed, despite the species being protected.
“In making that decision, I considered the exceptional circumstances of the attack, the hazard posed by the shark, and the potential recovery of coronial evidence,” she said.
Police haven’t said if O’Neill’s remains have been found. They were confident the “swimmer died as a result of the attack.”
Darrel Haythornthwaite, who served as a witness, described to Nine Network television how O’Neill was swimming with a friend when the attack began.
“I was just shocked. I mean, I feel for his mate,” Haythornthwaite said. “He’s apologized and said ‘I didn’t save my mate’ … I said, ‘You couldn’t have done anything.'”
Other Attacks This Year
O’Neill was the fifth fatal shark attack this year.
A surfer suffered a serious leg injury on Monday in a shark attack about 250 miles north of Perth.
Three spearfishing divers were killed between May and June in attacks. A 12-year-old boy was killed in Sydney Harbor in January.
What the Family Lost
The family’s statement described O’Neill as a devoted father and grandfather-to-be before his death.
He was also described as a man who loved the ocean and was known to be a passionate swimmer, sports lover, dedicated worker and generous, witty guy.
“Greg loved the ocean and was known as a passionate swimmer, sports lover, dedicated worker and an all round generous, witty guy.”
The family’s choice to make that portrait public came at a time of grief.
Source material: “'Devoted' father and grandfather-to-be swimming at popular beach killed in suspected fatal shark attack,” Fox News.
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