An experienced recreational scuba diver was doing what he loved when he was killed by a white shark off Western Australia’s southern coast.
Gary Johnson had just entered the water when he was attacked about 1pm on Sunday near Cull Island, close to West Beach in Esperance.
His partner Karen Milligan put out the mayday alert and was taken to Esperance hospital to be treated for shock.
“I raced out and we found a couple of flippers and a sleeve in the water, basically that was about it,” Glenn Quinlivan told reporters.
The search for Johnson’s body was continuing on Monday.
Esperance Shire president Ian Mickel said Johnson was well-liked in the community.
“It’s a real shock to know a person as experienced as Gary has lost his life while he was doing what he loved,” he said.
Long-time friend Jaimen Hudson said he was heartbroken for Johnson’s family.
“Gary would always ask me about my family and I would do the same. He was just a genuinely really great guy,” Hudson said.
“I couldn’t believe it when I found out. It’s a terrible tragedy.
“He dived every good weather day when he wasn’t working.”
Johnson was president of the Esperance Dive Club, a member of the Esperance Squash Club and worked for a local farming machinery retailer.
“He will be dearly missed … the Sunday hits will never be the same,” a post on the squash club’s Facebook page read.
In a social media post from November 2017, Johnson said he was often asked whether he was worried about sharks.
“I personally wear a shark protection device (many don’t) just because it gives me peace of mind, much like buckling up a seatbelt in the car,” he wrote.
“I can honestly say that in my nine years diving in Esperance (most weekends – weather permitting) I have only seen one shark – a bronze whaler who showed absolutely no interest in me.”
WA fisheries minister Peter Tinley would not comment on whether Johnson had been wearing a shark shield.
“They are no different than anything else that we put around ourselves for protection, like a motorbike helmet,” he told reporters. “It is not a fail-safe system, sometimes it doesn’t work … about nine out of 10 times it does work.”
Tinley said there were 110 islands off Esperance and in this case drumlines would have had limited use.
The future of the smart drumline trial is due for consideration in February.
“We’ve tagged over 105 white pointers … [it’s] a fantastic achievement,” Tinley said.
The shire has erected shark warning signs from West Beach to Twilight Beach.
The Esperance area is a notorious for shark attacks.
In April 2017, Laeticia Brouwer, 17, died after she was bitten while surfing with her father at Kelp Beds.
In October 2014, surfer Sean Pollard lost his left arm and right hand after he was mauled by two white sharks at Kelp Beds.
