Search called off for 37yo surfer missing on WA's south coast

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Authorities in WA have wound back the search for a 37-year-old man from Victoria who was attacked by a shark at a popular beach near Esperance on Monday afternoon.

Transcript

00:00Despite an extensive search, there's been no sign of 37-year-old Stephen Payne after

00:07he was attacked by a shark at Wharton Beach about an hour's drive east of Esperance on

00:11Monday afternoon.

00:13Police say the man was travelling across Australia from Melbourne with his partner and their

00:18dog when the incident occurred.

00:20His partner tragically saw the event unfold from the beach.

00:24Other witnesses were there as well who raised the alarm and the beach was soon closed after

00:29the incident, but as I mentioned, there's just been no sign despite the extensive effort.

00:37This is the fourth tragedy in the Esperance region since 2017.

00:41The community's devastated here and are supporting one another where they can.

00:45It's just another blow for an area that's had far too many shark-related tragedies in

00:50recent years.

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