Man, 39, Dies After Shark Attack Near Hull Heads in Far North Queensland

A 39-year-old man has died after a shark attack near Hull Heads in Far North Queensland, prompting an emergency response at the Hull River Heads boat ramp on Sunday afternoon.

Emergency services were called to the boat ramp shortly after midday following reports that a man had been attacked by a shark while out at Kennedy Shoal, a reef site off the coast near Tully Heads. The man was retrieved from the water and brought back by boat, where paramedics were waiting.

He later died from his injuries. Queensland Police said a report will be prepared for the coroner, with authorities treating the death as sudden and non-suspicious.

The incident happened near Hull Heads, a coastal community in Far North Queensland, roughly south of Cairns and close to the Tully Heads area. The location is known for boating, fishing and access to reef waters, making it a familiar part of the region’s marine landscape.

Emergency crews called to Hull River Heads boat ramp

According to ABC News, emergency services were called to the Hull River boat ramp after reports of the shark attack. The man is understood to have been attacked at Kennedy Shoal before being recovered from the water.

Queensland Ambulance had earlier assessed the situation as life-threatening, with paramedics called ahead to meet the injured man at the boat ramp. Despite the emergency response, he could not be saved.

Police have not released the man’s name. Further details about his activity at the time of the attack, the shark species involved, and whether others were in the water have not yet been confirmed publicly.

Fatal attack adds to concern around Australian waters

The death comes during a period of heightened attention around shark incidents in Australian waters. Earlier this month, a separate fatal attack was reported off Rottnest Island in Western Australia, where a man died after being bitten while spearfishing.

Shark encounters remain rare compared with the number of people who swim, fish, dive and boat around Australia’s coastline each year, but fatal incidents carry significant impact for coastal communities and emergency responders.

In Far North Queensland, reef and island waters are central to local life, tourism and recreation. The Hull Heads and Tully Heads coastline sits close to offshore fishing and reef areas, where conditions can change quickly and emergency access often depends on boats returning injured people to shore.

Authorities are expected to provide more information only after next-of-kin processes and the coroner’s reporting requirements are completed. Until then, the confirmed details remain limited to the emergency response, the location near Kennedy Shoal, and the death of the 39-year-old man.