Devoted Father Killed During Morning Swim as Authorities Take Rare Step After Shark Attack

A routine morning swim off one of Western Australia’s popular beaches ended in tragedy when 63-year-old Greg O’Neill was killed in a shark attack while in the water with a friend.

O’Neill, a husband, father and grandfather-to-be, was swimming off Sorrento Beach in Perth on Friday when the attack occurred. His body had not been recovered at the time his family publicly confirmed his death.

Family Remembers a Man Who “Loved the Ocean”

In a statement following the tragedy, O’Neill’s family said they were “deeply shocked and devastated” by the loss of a man who held many roles in their lives — father, husband, brother, uncle, friend and soon-to-be grandfather.

They remembered him as a “generous, devoted family man” who gave his children love, care and opportunity throughout their lives.

The ocean had also been an important part of O’Neill’s life. His family described him as a passionate swimmer and sports lover, as well as a dedicated worker known for his generosity and wit.

Rare Order Issued After Fatal Attack

The response from authorities has gone beyond the measures normally taken following a shark encounter.

Western Australia Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis authorized a rare catch-and-kill order, allowing authorized officers to destroy the shark if it is captured. Great white sharks are protected in Australia, making such an order particularly unusual. It is believed to be Western Australia’s first of its kind in roughly a decade.

Jarvis said the decision was made because of the exceptional circumstances surrounding the attack and the continuing hazard authorities believed the shark could pose.

Officials described the shark involved as approximately eight feet long. Police boats and drones were deployed to patrol the waters, while beaches in the surrounding area were ordered closed until at least Sunday.

A Troubling Week Along Western Australia’s Coast

O’Neill’s death came during an especially difficult week involving shark encounters in the state.

Earlier in the week, a 56-year-old surfer suffered a severe leg injury in another shark attack. O’Neill’s death was reported as Western Australia’s third fatal shark attack of 2026 and Australia’s fifth overall this year.

For O’Neill’s family, however, the statistics sit behind a much more personal loss: a devoted family man who loved swimming and the ocean, and whose ordinary morning in the water ended in a tragedy that has now prompted an extraordinary response from authorities.