Coroner's Finding: STEHBENS Jarrod David
Deceased
Jarrod David Stehbens
Demographics
23y, male
Date of death
2005-08-24
Finding date
2008-03-14
Cause of death
injuries sustained in a shark attack
AI-generated summary
A 23-year-old research assistant died from injuries sustained in a Great White shark attack while conducting a University of Adelaide diving expedition in the Gulf of St Vincent. The inquest examined whether risk assessment for shark attack was adequate and whether electronic shark repellent devices should have been used. While the attack risk was statistically low, the coroner found shark repellent devices do provide some deterrent effect and should be considered part of occupational diving safety. Key failings included: the University's Shark Shield devices were not known to divers, no formal policy mandated their use, and supervisory staff held unfounded beliefs about their ineffectiveness. The coroner did not definitively determine if a functioning Shark Shield would have prevented this attack, but recommended shark repellent devices be actively encouraged rather than discouraged in University diving operations.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Error types
Procedures
Contributing factors
- failure to use available shark repellent devices despite their presence on the dive boat
- divers unaware that shark repellent devices were on board the vessel
- lack of formal policy requiring use of shark repellent devices in diving operations
- supervisory staff held unfounded beliefs about ineffectiveness of shark repellent devices
- no training provided to divers on use of shark repellent devices
- separation of divers from boat during safety stop increased exposure to marine predators
- University diving manual contained conflicting information about shark repellent devices
Coroner's recommendations
- Commercial and recreational divers operating in waters where there is risk of shark presence should wear shark repellent devices of the Shark Pod or Shark Shield type, provided equipment is used in accordance with manufacturer's instructions and is turned on for the entire duration of time in the water (reiteration of Buckland Inquest recommendation)
- No person in authority at the University should discourage use of shark repellent devices
- The University should actively encourage the use of effective shark repellent devices among the University diving community
- These recommendations are directed to the Manager of Health Safety and Well Being of the University and the Head of the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences
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