Steven Mattaboni Named as Victim in Fatal Rottnest Island Shark Attack

Tributes have poured in following the death of a 38-year-old Australian man who was killed in a shark attack while spearfishing off Western Australia’s Rottnest Island.

The victim, identified as Steven Mattaboni, was a father of two young daughters and a well-known member of his local sporting and diving community.

According to authorities and eyewitness accounts, Mattaboni was spearfishing with friends at Horseshoe Reef on Saturday when he was bitten on the lower leg by a large shark, believed to be around four to five metres long. His friends quickly pulled him from the water and rushed him back to shore, but emergency responders were unable to revive him.

Emergency services, including paramedics and rescue teams, attempted CPR upon arrival at the scene, but he was pronounced dead shortly after.

His wife described him as a devoted father and “one-of-a-kind gentleman,” while friends and members of the Kingsley Football Club remembered him as a generous and loyal man who loved the ocean deeply.

Local officials have expressed condolences and urged caution in the area as shark activity continues to be monitored, with warnings issued for swimmers and divers around Rottnest Island.

The incident marks one of the latest fatal shark attacks in Australia, raising renewed concerns over ocean safety and shark encounters along popular coastal waters.