Swimmers return to Sorrento Beach after fatal shark attack

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 11 Oct, 07:54 · Archive

Swimmers have returned to Sorrento Beach, Western Australia, a month after Greg O'Neill was killed by a shark.

Swimmers have returned to Sorrento Beach in Western Australia a month after Greg O'Neill, 63, was killed by a suspected 5-metre great white shark on 18 September. O'Neill was attacked approximately 15 metres from shore.

At a memorial service on Sunday, O'Neill's children spoke publicly for the first time. His son Keelan said: 'We know that Dad would never have wanted what happened here to stop people from doing the things that they love.' He described his father as 'an absolute action man' who would want everyone to 'keep embracing life and live their life to the fullest.' His daughter Bianca added: 'The water was Dad's happy healing place, and he was just so in tune with it. He wouldn't want anyone to feel less safe because of what happened to him.'

Members of the Sorrento Slugs, a swimming group that has operated at the beach for 40 years, have also returned. They said the attack has changed their sense of security. David Hobson said: 'We do feel a little bit more vulnerable. We believed for a long time this was a very safe beach, and now that safety sense has gone.' The group questioned the design of the beach's former shark barrier, which was removed more than five years ago, suggesting it should be redesigned with proper pylons and securing rather than reinstalled in its original form.

How it is being reported

• Children of shark attack victim Greg O’Neill break silence as hundreds attend Sorrento Beach memorialThe children of Sorrento shark victim Greg O’Neill have spoken for the first time about the loss of their dad, urging people grappling over a return to the ocean to ‘live life to the fullest’ and keep swimming.The West Australian · 11 Oct, 07:20
• ‘Feel more vulnerable’: Swimmers return to Sorrento Beach, month after Greg O’Neil killed by sharkThe Sorrento Slugs have returned to continue their daily tradition of swimming at the beach, where Greg O’Neill was tragically killed by a shark last month.Perth Now · 9 Oct, 19:00

In this story: Greg O'Neill · Sorrento Beach · Sorrento Slugs · Western Australia

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