Last Friday’s fatal shark attack happened 20 kilometres away from the nearest emergency Shark Bite Kit.
Just four Shark Bite Kits, a packaged invention of surfer Danny Schouten after his friend survived a brutal attack in 2024 partly because a passing local used a dog lead as a tourniquet, are dotted along the Perth coast from Leighton to Cottesloe beaches.
At about $250 each, each kit contains two tourniquets, a compression bandage, two dressings, a foil blanket, gloves, a whistle and step-by-step instructions on what to do.
The Town of Cambridge, following a meeting earlier this year, had already begun preparations to roll out a further 10 such kits along its waterfront which includes popular City Beach and Floreat Beach.
It’s the first Perth council to invest ratepayers money on the kits, which are common along the eastern seaboard of Australia.
The four existing kits at Leighton Beach, Sydney Street beach in Mosman Park, Mosman Beach, and Vera View beach, were paid for and installed by Safer Swimming Australia.
The location of Cambridge’s kits will be determined in consultation with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Surf Life Saving WA, and St John Ambulance, the council said, with hope they will be in place by the start of summer.
There remains none any further north along Perth’s coast, including at Sorrento where last Friday’s shock attack that killed family man Greg O’Neill occurred.
Joondalup mayor Daniel Kingston has promised the council will look at any available beach safety measures, without ruling any specific options in or out.
He said the City would “continue working with State and Federal governments and other agencies on opportunities to improve safety along our coastline”.
Joondalup’s beaches also includes those at Hillarys, Mullaloo and Burns Beach.
Authorities and volunteers have committed to other moves designed to restore safety and beachgoers confidence with weekday helicopter shark patrols brought forward and Sorrento Surf Life Saving Club and Mullaloo Surf Life Saving Club to commence volunteer lifeguard patrolling earlier, starting this weekend.
Paid lifeguard shifts operating all day have also been brought forward.
The Shark Bite Kit was developed by Danny Schouten in 2024 after his friend Kai McKenzie, 23 at the time, was attacked by a three-metre shark that severed his right leg while surfing in Port Macquarie on the NSW Mid North Coast.
He “fought off” the shark and caught a wave to shore and coincidentally, a retired police officer used a dog lead to stop the bleeding.
Mr McKenzie lost his leg but survived the attack, inspiring Mr Schouten to invent Shark Bite Kits.
It proved to be a literal lifesaver when one was used in June this year to help Sydney mum Leah Steward after she was mauled by a 3.5 metre white shark while swimming at Coogee Beach, in NSW.
The kit had only been installed a few months earlier.
There are now 250 of the kits at beaches across the country.