Brief
Sharks circle after whale carcass on City Beach
A whale carcass on City Beach has drawn great white sharks, leading local authorities to close the beach and warn swimmers.
By Felo News Desk · Published
A whale carcass washed up on City Beach early on Monday, attracting great white sharks that were spotted offshore by a Surf Life Saving WA helicopter. The carcass, reported at 7.30am, prompted the Town of Cambridge to close the beach one kilometre north and south of the shore, and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development warned of increased shark risk.
Jamie Freestone, a local resident, described the carcass as several metres long. Mayor Gary Mack said the council was seeking expert advice on the carcass’s condition before deciding what to do with it. He urged beachgoers to heed the closure, noting that some still attempted to swim or let dogs swim despite the danger.
Sharks were seen swimming near Swanbourne, just south of City Beach, around 10.30am, with the helicopter reporting five‑metre and four‑metre white pointers. The Department said the carcass could act as an attractant, potentially drawing sharks closer to the coast.
The incident comes ten days after the death of 63‑year‑old Greg O’Neill, who was killed in a suspected white pointer attack at Sorrento Beach, 12 kilometres north of City Beach. O’Neill’s death had prompted Surf Life Saving WA to start helicopter patrols a week earlier than scheduled to boost safety.
Key facts
- A whale carcass washed up on City Beach on 2026-09-28 (smh.com.au)
- Great white sharks were spotted offshore by a Surf Life Saving WA helicopter (smh.com.au)
- The Town of Cambridge closed the beach one kilometre north and south of the shore (smh.com.au)
- Mayor Gary Mack sought expert advice on the carcass’s condition (smh.com.au)
- The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development warned of increased shark risk (smh.com.au)
Background
The incident follows a recent fatal shark attack at Sorrento Beach, prompting earlier helicopter patrols and heightened beach safety measures in the region.
Why it matters
The presence of a whale carcass can attract sharks, increasing risk to beachgoers and potentially affecting local tourism and public safety.
What happens next
Local authorities are awaiting expert advice on the carcass and will decide on removal or containment measures. Beach closures remain in effect until further notice.
Sources
- [1] smh.com.au — originally reported as “Sharks circle as whale carcass washes up on City Beach”
