The search for the victim of a shark attack off Western Australia's south coast has been called off after three days, with the blessing of his heartbroken family. Local surfer Andrew Sharpe was bitten by a shark at Kelp Beds Beach near Esperance on Friday morning. In a statement, Mr Sharpe's family said he was renowned for being a loyal mate and a loving father, life partner and brother. WA's south coast, particularly around Esperance, is a known breeding ground for great white sharks and home to large seal colonies. Kelp Beds Beach was the site of a deadly shark mauling in 2017 when 17-year-old surfer Laeticia Brouwer was killed.

Source: Otago Daily Times October 12, 2020 00:45 UTC