New Facts: Shark Kills Spearfisherman Off Great Barrier Reef

Michael Jensz, 39, a Cairns father and experienced spearfisherman, was fatally attacked while diving with three friends at Kennedy Shoal, about 40 to 45 km off the Cassowary Coast. He suffered a critical head injury. Another person in the water pulled him back to their seven-metre boat; there were four people aboard and no one else was hurt.

The group sent an SOS shortly before midday and began the run back to shore. They reached the Hull Heads boat ramp near Cardwell about 1 pm, where paramedics were waiting and he was declared dead.

Investigators have yet to confirm the shark species. Boaties had reported bull sharks in the area earlier, and he was attempting to retrieve a catch lodged on the reef when the attack occurred.

AI-synthesized from multiple reported sources