Coroner's Finding: BUCKLAND Paul William

23y · Male·exsanguination from amputation of right leg through hip joint

A 23-year-old professional scallop diver was fatally attacked by a great white shark off South Australia's coast. He died from exsanguination following amputation of his right leg. The coroner identified two critical failures in shark repellent device usage: the fin electrode was incorrectly attached to the air hose rather than the diving fin, reducing effectiveness particularly at the surface; and the device was switched off once the diver reached the seabed, removing protection during initial shark investigation. The coroner found that proper device deployment and continuous activation throughout the dive may have altered the outcome. The coroner recommended commercial and recreational divers in shark-prone waters wear shark repellent devices in accordance with manufacturer instructions, kept activated for the entire underwater duration.