Coroner's Finding: Johnson, Damian
Deceased
Damian John Johnson
Demographics
46y, male
Date of death
2015-07-25
Finding date
2016-12-06
Cause of death
Exsanguination from multiple shark bites inflicted by a white shark (Carcharodon carcharias, estimated 3.9–4.2 metres in length)
AI-generated summary
This is a tragic case of a fatal shark attack on an experienced commercial and recreational diver. Damian John Johnson, aged 46, died on 25 July 2015 when attacked by a white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) while undertaking a recreational scallop dive in Mercury Passage, Tasmania. A shark sighting had been reported by other divers the previous day and warned via maritime radio, but Mr Johnson was not equipped with a marine radio and did not receive the warning. The coroner found no fault with his diving practices, which were conducted safely and lawfully. There was no reason to anticipate the shark's presence. Since the incident, Tasmania Police have implemented enhanced notification procedures for shark sightings, including media releases, emergency channel broadcasts, and patrol deployments to warn water users. The coroner encouraged public reporting of shark sightings to enable rapid community notification.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Contributing factors
- Fatal attack by white shark in Mercury Passage
Coroner's recommendations
- Encourage members of the public to contact Tasmania Police in the event of a shark sighting to enable swift community notification
Full text
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