The family of Steven Mattaboni is being surrounded by tributes tonight after the dad-of-two was taken in the great white shark tragedy near Rottnest Island… and one image from the shoreline is staying with people.

On a bright Saturday morning in May 2026, Steven “Mattas” Mattaboni, a 38-year-old Perth surveyor, devoted husband, and father to two young daughters, set out for what should have been another exhilarating day doing what he loved: spearfishing with close friends off Horseshoe Reef, about one kilometre offshore from Rottnest Island. By late morning, he was gone—fatally attacked by a great white shark estimated at four to five metres (13-16 feet) long. His friends, who witnessed the horror, pulled him from the water, performed CPR on the boat, and raced him to Geordie Bay jetty. Paramedics and police continued desperate efforts, but he could not be revived.

The news spread rapidly across Western Australia and beyond, turning a popular holiday destination into a site of profound grief. Rottnest Island—known for its white-sand beaches, quokkas, and turquoise waters—became the backdrop for a tragedy that has left a community reeling. As tributes poured in for Mattaboni, described universally as a “one-of-a-kind gentleman,” fiercely loyal, and endlessly generous, his wife Shirene’s words captured the raw devastation felt by all who knew him.

“Our hearts are irrevocably broken by the loss of Steven, known affectionately to his mates as Mattas,” Shirene Mattaboni, a clinical nurse specialist, said in a statement. “Steven was a devoted father to our two beautiful daughters—one who turns three next month and our four-month-old baby. An avid fisherman and spearfisherman, who lived and breathed the ocean, he was always in tune with the sea. He was fiercely loyal, endlessly generous, and the kind of man who would give you the shirt off his back. The world has lost a truly one-of-a-kind gentleman, and our daughters have lost an incredible father far too soon.”

The phrase echoing through media reports and social media—“He was supposed to come home”—encapsulates the shattering ordinariness of the day turned nightmare. Mattaboni was not a reckless adventurer but a family man enjoying a recreational outing with mates during what was reportedly a small-scale spearfishing gathering among friends.

A Life Lived in Tune with the Sea

Steven Mattaboni lived in Perth’s northern suburbs with his wife Shirene and their two daughters. Beyond his professional work as a surveyor, he was deeply embedded in Western Australia’s outdoor and sporting communities. He served as secretary of the Bluewater Freedivers of Western Australia spearfishing club and was a premiership player with the Kingsley Football Club in Perth’s north, where he was remembered as one of the most genuine people you could meet—someone whose smile could light up a room.

Friends and club mates described him as someone who respected the ocean while embracing its challenges. Spearfishing, a pursuit requiring skill, breath control, and awareness of marine environments, was his passion. Graham Henderson, president of the Australian Underwater Federation, noted the inherent risks but emphasized community efforts to mitigate them through safety boats and drones in competitions. Recreational outings, like the one Mattaboni was on, carry heightened vulnerability.

Mattaboni’s love for the sea was not abstract. Photos shared by his family show a man fully alive—smiling with his wife and daughters, on the water, and engaged with the natural world. Shirene highlighted how he was “always in tune with the sea,” a quality that defined him as much as his roles as husband and father.

His football club issued a heartfelt tribute: “Mattas was one of the most genuine people you could meet… Our thoughts and love are with his family and friends during this incredibly difficult time, especially his wife Shirene and their two young daughters.”

Western Australian leaders echoed the sentiment. Premier Roger Cook called the attack “deeply distressing” and a “tragedy that will be felt by all Western Australians.” Police Minister Reece Whitby acknowledged the “confronting, disturbing and tragic scene” faced by friends and first responders, thanking them for their efforts.

The Attack: What We Know

The incident unfolded around 9:55–10 a.m. on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at Horseshoe Reef, northwest of Rottnest Island. Mattaboni was in the water, spearfishing with three or four friends, when the shark struck, biting his lower legs (reports mention both legs). He was approximately 20 metres from the boat. Friends immediately pulled him aboard and began life-saving measures en route to shore.

At Geordie Bay jetty, paramedics and police took over CPR efforts, which continued for around 30 minutes alongside a rescue helicopter prepared for evacuation to the mainland. Tragically, his injuries proved fatal. Police described them as “horrific.” A five-metre white shark was reportedly spotted about 80 metres offshore around the time of the attack.

This was Western Australia’s first fatal shark attack since March 2025. Since 2000, there have been around 22 fatal shark attacks in the state. Australia as a whole has recorded nearly 1,300 shark attacks since 1791, with over 260 fatalities. Great whites, protected in WA waters since 1997, are apex predators whose presence can increase with changing ocean conditions, feeding patterns, and climate influences.

Spearfishing places individuals in closer proximity to marine life, often with blood in the water from speared fish, which can attract sharks. Experts like Dr. Daryl McPhee have noted that while the risk remains statistically low—especially for beachgoers—the offshore nature of this incident differentiates it from near-shore swimmer attacks.

The Shoreline Image That Lingers

One image from the shoreline has resonated deeply amid the outpouring of grief: scenes at Geordie Bay showing emergency response, friends comforting one another on a police boat, and the quiet beach the following day. Photos captured paramedics and police at the jetty, the somber atmosphere as news spread, and tourists and locals processing the loss while the island’s beaches remained open.

Geordie Bay, one of the island’s larger beaches, appeared subdued on Sunday morning. Visitors who had planned carefree holidays found themselves reflecting on the thin line between recreation and risk. One witness described watching CPR efforts from shore, noting it “didn’t look too good.” These visuals—human vulnerability against the vast ocean—have stayed with people, symbolizing not just loss but the bravery of those who tried to save him and the community’s collective mourning.

Rottnest Island Authority and authorities urged caution but kept beaches open, balancing safety with the island’s role as a beloved getaway just 19km from Fremantle. Ferries continued, though many visitors expressed nervousness. The island’s protected nature reserve status, quokka fame, and pristine coves draw thousands, yet this event served as a stark reminder of the ocean’s power.

Broader Context: Sharks, Tourism, and Risk in WA

Western Australia’s coastline is renowned for its beauty but also its shark activity. Great whites frequent these waters, drawn by seals, fish, and migratory patterns. Climate change and shifting ecosystems may be influencing closer encounters, as noted by underwater federation representatives.

Spearfishing and diving communities have long navigated these realities, advocating for education, shark spotting tech, and respect for the marine environment rather than fear-driven culls. Mattaboni’s death, while devastating, underscores ongoing debates about human-ocean coexistence. Tourism operators on Rottnest emphasized that the attack occurred well offshore during a specialized activity, not a typical beach swim.

Remembering a Father, Husband, and Friend

As tributes continue, the focus remains on the man behind the headlines. Shirene Mattaboni requested privacy for the family as they grieve an “incomprehensible loss.” Their young daughters—one nearing her third birthday, the other just four months old—will grow up hearing stories of a father who loved the sea, his family, and life with quiet generosity.

Mattaboni’s club mates, football teammates, and the broader spearfishing community have rallied, sharing memories of his loyalty and presence. Emergency services personnel, who worked tirelessly despite the confronting scene, have also been thanked publicly.

In the days following, Rottnest Island saw a mix of continued visitor activity and quiet reflection. Families on ferries, beachgoers monitoring shark alerts, and divers reconsidering plans—all touched by the event. One local noted the sadness overlaying what should be joyful island days.

A Legacy Beyond the Tragedy

Steven Mattaboni’s story is one of a life well-lived in balance with nature’s wonders and dangers. He leaves behind a loving family, friends who risked everything to save him, and a community reminded of what matters most. The ocean he cherished claimed him too soon, but his memory—as a devoted dad, passionate fisherman, and genuine soul—will endure.

For his wife and daughters, the coming days, months, and years will be marked by absence. “He was supposed to come home.” Those words, paired with images of a sunlit shoreline now carrying heavier meaning, capture a universal truth about love and loss. In honoring Steven Mattaboni, Western Australians and ocean enthusiasts worldwide are reminded to cherish time with loved ones and respect the unpredictable sea.

Support services have been highlighted for those affected, including visitors and residents processing the trauma. As investigations continue for the coroner and marine authorities monitor the area, the island’s waters remain a place of beauty, now tinged with solemnity.

Steven Mattaboni’s life, though cut short, exemplified passion, family devotion, and connection to the natural world. In the outpouring of love from those who knew him best, his legacy shines through the grief—a beacon for anyone who has ever felt the pull of the ocean or the warmth of a loyal friend.

May he rest in peace, and may his family find strength in the countless tributes surrounding them tonight and in the days ahead. The shoreline image lingers not as one of despair alone, but of community, resilience, and the enduring human spirit facing nature’s raw power.