‘Generous’ dad, 63, was mauled to death by shark in savage attack as rare ‘catch-and-kill’ order issued for beast

AN URGENT hunt is ongoing for a great white shark after a swimmer was mauled to death in Australia. Greg O’Neill, 63, has been named as the victim of Friday morning’s attack at Sorrento, in Perth’s north, which has now resulted in a rare catch-and-kill order. Police seen in the waters where Greg was killed Credit: 9NEWS Officers patrol the beach after the fatal attack Credit: 9NEWS Beachgoers watched in horror as the large beast sank its sharp teeth into him, comparing it to “a scene from Jaws, where the body is flicked around like a ragdoll”. The massacre happened at around 10.30am, as Greg was swimming 50ft from the shore. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Tributes have been paid to the “generous and devoted family man,” who loved the ocean and was known as a “passionate swimmer,” ABC reported. “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,” his family said in a statement. Read more about shark attacks “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.” Western Australia Police have since shut Sorrento and the surrounding beaches as the search operation continues. Most read in The Sun A police boat and and helicopter patrol Sorrento Beach Credit: AP A shark spotted off Sorrento Beach after the attack Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis announced the extraordinary measures, but stopped short of ordering a widespread cull. “Given the shark had been positively identified, remained in the vicinity following a fatal attack, and was considered to pose an ongoing threat, I authorised Fisheries officers to destroy the shark if it could be captured,” she said. It is believed that this is the first time in 10 years that the ministry has issued such an order. “I don’t want to give people a false sense of security. I cannot mitigate all risks,” Jarvis added. So far, efforts to capture the beast remain unsuccessful. A shark expert has been drafted in by police to investigate how and why the attack may have occurred, 9News reported. Witnesses described the attack as “gruesome,” adding that Greg was mauled in the water. “I am a nurse, so I mean I obviously see a lot of gruesome stuff, but to see somebody being mauled to death in the water in front of me is pretty hard to clock,” one woman said. Jacqui Rapaic, who was walking on the beach with a friend, said: “My friend said, ‘Jac, I think there’s been a shark attack’ and I looked out to the ocean and I could see a pool of blood.” She said she believed two men had been swimming but only one of them had made it back to shore. It comes just days after a surfer was mauled further up the coast. On Monday, surfer Mel Ismail, 56, was attacked by a shark off the waters of Glenfield Beach in Geraldton. He was dragged to shore by another surfer, Shannan Dunn, but suffered horror injuries to his right leg which had to be amputated below the shin. A member of the public had reported seeing a 2.5 metre-long shark off the beach earlier that day. Comment now