{"id":16467,"date":"2026-05-18T14:15:39","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T14:15:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/the-dailytourist.com\/?p=16467"},"modified":"2026-05-18T14:15:39","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T14:15:39","slug":"australian-father-of-two-killed-in-shark-attack-off-western-australia-coast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/the-dailytourist.com\/?p=16467","title":{"rendered":"Australian Father-of-Two Killed in Shark Attack off Western Australia Coast"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Tributes have poured in for an Australian father-of-two who died following a shark attack off the coast of Western Australia on Saturday.<\/p>\n

The victim, identified as 38-year-old Steven Mattaboni, was attacked by a four-metre shark while spearfishing near Horseshoe Reef, northwest of the popular Rottnest Island near Perth. The incident occurred around 10:00am local time, according to authorities.<\/p>\n

Police said Mattaboni was about 20 metres away from his boat and nearly one kilometre offshore when the shark bit him on the lower leg in what officers described as a \u201chorrific\u201d attack. Friends who were with him quickly brought him back to shore, but emergency responders were unable to revive him.<\/p>\n

In an emotional statement, his wife Shirene Mattaboni described him as an \u201cincredible father\u201d to their two young daughters and said he \u201clived and breathed the ocean.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSteven was a devoted father to our two beautiful daughters \u2014 one who turns three next month and our four-month-old baby,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur hearts are irrevocably broken.\u201d<\/p>\n

She also described her husband as \u201cfiercely loyal, endlessly generous, and the kind of man who would give you the shirt off his back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe world has lost a truly one-of-a-kind gentleman, and our daughters have lost an incredible father far too soon,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

The Kingsley Amateur Football Club in Perth, where Mattaboni played, also paid tribute, calling him a \u201cmuch loved friend to many.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe had a smile and presence that could light up a room, and he will be remembered fondly by all who had the privilege of knowing him,\u201d the club said in an online post.<\/p>\n

Graham Henderson, president of the Australian Underwater Federation, expressed sadness over the tragedy and extended condolences to Mattaboni\u2019s family and fellow divers.<\/p>\n

\u201cSpearfishing is a dangerous sport in some ways, but we always try to minimise the risks,\u201d Henderson told local media, adding that safety boats and shark-spotting drones are often used during competitions.<\/p>\n

Western Australia Police Sergeant Michael Wear said Mattaboni\u2019s friends witnessed the entire attack, calling it a deeply traumatic experience.<\/p>\n

State Police Minister Reece Whitby also praised the efforts of the victim\u2019s friends and emergency responders who attempted to save his life.<\/p>\n

The Western Australia Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development confirmed it had received reports of a man being attacked by a four-metre shark in the area.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Tributes have poured in for an Australian father-of-two who died following a shark attack off the coast of Western Australia on Saturday. The victim, identified as 38-year-old Steven Mattaboni, was attacked by a four-metre shark while spearfishing near Horseshoe Reef, northwest of the popular Rottnest Island near Perth. The incident occurred around 10:00am local time, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16470,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[69],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16467","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-europe"],"yoast_head":"\nAustralian Father-of-Two Killed in Shark Attack off Western Australia Coast - The daily Tourist<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"http:\/\/the-dailytourist.com\/?p=16467\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Australian Father-of-Two Killed in Shark Attack off Western Australia Coast - The daily Tourist\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Tributes have poured in for an Australian father-of-two who died following a shark attack off the coast of Western Australia on Saturday. 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