Fears as fourth man is killed by shark

A father of two yesterday became the fourth person to be mauled to death by a shark off a stretch of coast in Western Australia, raising fears that a rogue Great White is responsible.

Peter Kurmann, 33, was scuba-diving with his brother Gian from a small boat when the 13ft shark attacked.

Gian, who was not hurt, hauled his brother's mutilated body from the sea and called for help to fishermen on another small boat nearby.

The attack took place a mile off Stratham Beach near Perth, a spot popular with British tourists.

Gian, 34, said: "Today our family has suffered a terrible loss. We have lost a son, a brother, a husband and a wonderful father. Words cannot express how we feel. We are in mourning."

Shark expert Hugh Edwards said he was almost certain that a Great White was responsible for yesterday's attack. He said it could not be ruled out that one shark was responsible for all the attacks. The three other deaths took place within the past six months.

Experts from the Fisheries Department have launched an investigation to confirm that the killer was a Great White.