Teen third WA shark fatality in a year0:22
A 17-year-old girl surfing with her dad has become the third victim of a fatal shark attack in WA in a year.
Teesh Brouwer, 17, named as Esperance shark attack victim
A SHARK cull in Western Australia is not out of the question as the Turnbull Government yesterday said it would pave the way for a strong response to the Monday attack that killed a 17-year-old female surfer.
As the family of Laeticia Brouwer said the teenager had died “doing something she loved”, Federal Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg said human life must come “first and foremost”.
Mr Frydenberg said he would “welcome” any proposal to protect people from sharks, which included culling, new drum line technology, shark barriers or “other measures”.
Laeticia, also known as Teesh, had been surfing with her father and sisters when the incident happened.
Her uncle Steve Evans told Perth Now the family had some comfort in the fact she died doing what she loved.
“We can take comfort that [Laeticia] died doing something that she loved,” Mr Evans said.
“The ocean was her and her family’s passion. Surfing was something that she treasured doing with her dad and her sisters.”
Police, ambulance and Esperance Marine Rescue treated the girl on the beach before she was taken to Esperance Hospital in a critical condition. Reports suggest she lost a leg in the attack.
Mr Evans said family were grateful to everyone who tried to save her.
Local media reported two sightings of a “medium-sized” great white shark in the area in the week leading up to the fatal attack, coming as close as 150 metres from the shore.
It also occurred in the same spot where surfer Sean Pollard lost his arms in a shark attack nearly three years ago.
“We heard the sirens and then when we heard there had been an attack,” local surfer and professional fisherman Neville Mansted told PerthNow.
“That’s twice now in the same spot. It could have been my son.”
He said fishermen saw great whites in the area “all the time.”
“They are breeding like flies ... The scary part is that no one will do anything about it.”
The WA Department of Fisheries has urged people to stay out of the water.
“Our advice to water users is to not undertake surfing, swimming or diving activities in the Wylie Bay area for at least the next 48 hours.”
Paramedic Paul Gaughan said medical staff tried to stabilise her as best they could. Family members and a nurse who was at the beach did all they could, performing first aid and applying a tourniquet.
“They really gave the young girl every possible chance under such dire circumstances for a positive outcome,” he told reporters.
“Unfortunately, in this case the injuries were just too severe.”
Esperance police acting senior sergeant Ben Jeffes said the girl was a competent surfer and denied the terrain made rescue efforts difficult.
“The sand didn’t slow us down or present any unusual problems for this incident,” he said.
Fisheries regional manager Russell Adams confirmed drumlines would not be deployed, but denied the beach was a particularly dangerous spot.
“It’s no more dangerous than swimming off Rottnest,” he said. The beach at Wylie Bay remained closed on Tuesday and the Department of Fisheries is conducting beach and water patrols.
Surfers and swimmers have been told not to go into the water for at least two days.
17yo girl fighting for her life after Wylie Bay shark attack. #esperance pic.twitter.com/kCNdidIXa6
— Caitlyn Rintoul (@caitlynrintoul) April 17, 2017
RECENT SHARK ATTACKS IN WA
June 5, 2016: Doreen Collyer, 60, died while diving a kilometre out from Mindarie Marina between One and Three Mile reefs
June 4, 2016: Ben Gerring, 29, was killed after having his leg severed by a great white shark at Falcon Beach, in Mandurah.
December 29, 2014: Jay Muscat, 17, is killed by a great white while spearfishing at Cheynes Beach near Albany, WA.
October 2, 2014: Sean Pollard, 23, loses both hands after a shark attack at Wylie Bay Beach, near Esperance, WA. He later shared his story with 60 Minutes, recounting the attack in detail.
PerthNow reports there were two shark sightings in the area prior to Monday’s attack. One medium-sized shark was spotted 150m off shore at Esperance and another was spotted 300m off Crazies Reef. It’s believed the same shark was spotted twice.
- with AAP
Fear of Sharks Spurs Innovation in Australia2:32
Shark populations are growing in Australia, including that of the great white shark, scientists say. This surf-loving nation is now developing new technologies to protect beachgoers from shark attacks. Photo: Brett Vercoe/NSW Government
Originally published as ‘Human life must come first’
