Monster shark 'to be destroyed' after mauling swimmer to death in horror Australia beach attack

Monster shark 'to be destroyed' after mauling swimmer to death in horror Australia beach attack A rare catch-and-kill order was issued for the great white shark after it attacked Greg O'Neill, 63, at a beach in Perth, Australia - with the swimmer's body yet to be found A monster shark will be "destroyed" after mauling a swimmer to death in a horror beach attack in Australia. Authorities issued a rare catch-and-kill order for the animal after it attacked 63-year-old swimmer Greg O'Neill at Sorrento beach in Perth, Western Australia (WA), on Friday. His body has still not been found. Emergency services were called to the beach at 10.15am local time after the great white shark mauled two swimmers just 15 metres from the shore. Mr O'Neill vanished underwater during the bloodbath, sparking an extensive search for his body, although police have since confirmed they believe the missing dad is dead. "The 63-year-old male swimmer has not been located. Police conducted a search of the shoreline this morning [Saturday]," a WA Police spokesperson said. Officers said they would remain at the scene on Saturday, weather permitting, with beaches in the area closed, reports the Daily Mail. In a statement, Mr O'Neill's family said they were "deeply shocked and devastated by the terrible tragedy," 7News reported. "He was a generous, devoted family man that gave his children so much love, care and opportunity," the statement said. "Greg loved the ocean and was known as a passionate swimmer, sports lover, dedicated worker and an all-round generous, witty guy." Mr O'Neill is understood to have been out in the water with a friend when the beast struck. One witness told how he noticed a splash in the ocean before a man came towards him saying "Shark, shark". "I feel for his mate, he's apologising, he said, 'I couldn't save my mate'," the witness, named only as Darrel, told 9News. "I said, 'You couldn't have done anything.' I don't really know how to put it into words, it's just a shocking thing." Witness Jacqui Rapaic told the ABC that the two men had gone swimming, but only one made it back to shore. She said she could see "a pool of blood" in the water. A third witness told WA today that the man was "mauled" and "tossed him around like a fish," while members of the public reported seeing a 2.5m-long (8ft2) shark in the water. The WA government has since issued an order to destroy the shark, with experts and aircraft from the Police Air Wing called in to track the animal down. Vessels from WA Water Police and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) from the state government have also been deployed. Authorities have spotted a great white shark in the vicinity of the attack, but it is not clear if that is the animal involved in the attack. Catch-and-kill orders are rare and controversial in Australia, where great white sharks are a protected species.