Mindarie beaches remain closed after shark kills woman

Update: Police have released the name of the woman killed. She was Doreen Ann Collyer, of Iluka.

A SOMBRE mood lay over Mindarie on Sunday as news spread of a diver’s death off the coast yesterday morning. Bystanders quietly watched the water after hearing the 60-year-old woman was killed by a shark while diving with her dive partner, a 43-year-old man, between One and Three Mile Reefs. The City of Wanneroo closed Mindarie beaches, including Claytons, early on Sunday afternoon as authorities patrolled the water, and the beaches remain closed today. WA Police Inspector Danny Mulligan said three fishermen, who helped the man return to his boat and retrieve her body, reported seeing a shark longer than their 5.3m boat. The Department of Fisheries set drum lines to capture the shark yesterday and again this morning after determining there was a serious threat to public safety. “An order has been issued by the director general of the Department of Fisheries to deploy capture gear in the vicinity of the incident, to fish for the shark,” a Fisheries statement said. “Given the nature of the injuries and the location of the incident, it is likely that a large white shark, greater than three metres in size is responsible.” Surf Life Saving WA first reported a shark sighting off Mindarie about 11.30am on June 5.