A total of 24 people have been killed by sharks in South Australian waters since the establishment of the colony in 1836. Prior to 2014, there had been 82 recorded shark attacks in South Australia. 20 of those have involved a single fatality. Victims were involved in a range of aquatic activities, including surfing, diving, spear-fishing, snorkeling, boating and swimming. Six of the fatalities occurred off the coast of greater metropolitan Adelaide, with the remainder distributed across South Australia's extensive coastline. Many of the fatal attacks have been attributed to great white sharks.[1]
There were no fatal shark attacks anywhere in South Australia during the years 2015 through 2022, Three surfers were killed by sharks in separate incidents in 2023, and a false positive was reported, based on speculation in 2021. The three surfers all died in remote, regional locations while surfing or swimming at a surf break.
On 21 January 2021, Duncan Craw was presumed to have been killed by a Great white shark while snorkeling at Port MacDonnell. It was later concluded that he had died of natural causes before being scavenged by a shark.[2]
Five fatal shark attacks occurred in South Australian waters between the year 2001 and 2020. All fatal attacks have been attributed to Great white sharks.[1]
13 fatal shark attacks occurred in South Australian waters between these years. Most attack species remain unknown, although all attacks between 1992-2000 were attributed to Great white sharks.[1]
Three fatal shark attacks were recorded during this period, and there were no recorded attacks for over 25 years (1937-1962).
Between the years 1836 and 1900 (i.e. within the Colony of South Australia), only two fatal shark attacks were recorded.