A West Australian teenager probably saved his own life when he thrust a spear gun down the throat of great white shark that had just killed his friend.
Jay Muscat, 17, died when the suspected white pointer attacked him at Cheynes Beach, near Albany on Monday.
The shark then turned on his friend, Matt Pullella, but he was able to shoot the shark in the mouth with his spear gun.
"The shark hit me first then attacked Jay," Mr Pullella posted on Facebook.
"The shark turned and came for me, I pushed the spear gun down its throat and fired the gun."
Local spearfisherman Leon Durrant told ABC radio Mr Muscat was a larrikin who loved his diving.
He said the teenager was one of the new generation of up and coming divers and was both competent and comfortable in the water.
"He made an effort to get there and was always by my side," Mr Durrant said.
Albany mayor Dennis Wellington told AAP Mr Muscat was attacked about 40 metres off shore at a popular spear fishing site.
Schoolteacher Rhianna Hook tweeted her family saw a "two metre plus" shark at Cheynes Beach on Boxing Day but didn't report it. A worker at the local caravan park told AAP that sharks were not commonly seen in the area, except for a few bronze whalers.
Cheynes Beach remained closed on Tuesday as the Fisheries Department deployed drumlines in the area to catch any shark larger than three metres as part of the state's imminent threat policy.
Fisheries spokesman Rick Fletcher told ABC radio that because Mr Muscat was attacked by a large shark it was likely it would be disposed of if caught, even though in most cases sharks responsible for attacks can't be identified.
"Obviously if we find a shark with a spear in it that's clear cut but that's probably unlikely," Mr Fletcher said.
Premier Colin Barnett said the teenager's death was a "terrible tragedy".
Mr Barnett said eight shark attack fatalities in four years was unprecedented and the state had no choice but to catch sharks that posed an "imminent threat".
"I fear we'll see more fatalities - even young children," Mr Barnett told reporters on Tuesday.
"There was swimming lessons being held in the area for young children on Christmas holidays."
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