In a gut-wrenching new account that has left Australia reeling, the close friends of spearfisher Steven Mattaboni have broken their silence, describing the horrifying moment a massive great white shark attacked him — and how they fought desperately to save his life, only for the ocean predator to strike with terrifying speed.

“It was too fast. There was nothing we could do.”

Those haunting words, spoken through tears by one of the men who watched his mate die in the crystal waters off Rottnest Island, have now exposed the brutal reality of that calm Saturday morning on May 16, 2026.

Steven Mattaboni, a 38-year-old father of two young daughters, was spearfishing with three lifelong friends near Horseshoe Reef when the nightmare unfolded. The experienced diver had just surfaced for a break, treading water while chatting happily on the phone with his wife Shirene, when the ocean turned red.

One of the friends, who asked not to be named, recounted the chaos in raw detail: “We heard Steven scream. Then we saw the shark — it was huge. It hit him like a freight train. We swam straight over, screaming his name, trying to fight it off, but it was too fast. Too strong. By the time we reached him, it had already done the damage.”

The group sprang into immediate action. They punched and kicked at the shark, trying to force it to release Steven. One friend applied a makeshift tourniquet using his own wetsuit while another performed CPR in the water as they desperately dragged their bleeding mate toward the boat. Every second counted — and every second was filled with pure terror.

But the shark had struck with clinical efficiency. Experts believe it was a large great white, possibly over 4 metres long, drawn in by the fish Steven had speared. In a matter of seconds, the predator inflicted catastrophic injuries. Despite the friends’ heroic efforts, Steven never stood a chance.

He was rushed back to shore at Geordie Bay, where paramedics worked frantically for more than an hour to revive him. Their efforts were in vain. Steven Mattaboni was pronounced dead at the scene, leaving behind a devastated wife, two baby girls, and a community in mourning.

The speed of the attack has shocked even seasoned ocean experts. Western Australia is no stranger to shark incidents, but the suddenness and ferocity of this one — happening in relatively shallow water near a popular reef — has sent waves of fear through the diving and spearfishing community.

Steven’s friends described him as cautious, experienced, and always safety-conscious. He had dived these waters countless times before. On that fateful morning, the conditions seemed perfect — calm seas, good visibility, and a strong camaraderie among the group. No one saw the shark coming until it was already too late.

Shirene Mattaboni, who was on the phone with her husband when the attack began, has shown extraordinary courage by releasing the final 27 seconds of that call. The audio captures Steven’s relaxed voice turning into pure panic as he screams, “I’m being attacked!” The sounds of thrashing water, desperate gasps, and the struggle are almost too painful to hear. For Shirene, sharing those final moments was both an act of love and a painful necessity — a way to honour her husband and raise awareness about the unforgiving power of the sea.

The young family is now left shattered. Their eldest daughter is about to turn three, while the youngest is just four months old. Friends say Steven was a devoted father who lived for his girls. He was the kind of man who would light up a room, always ready with a joke or a helping hand. His loss has left a hole that can never be filled.

The tragedy has reignited fierce debate about shark safety in Western Australia. Many are calling for expanded drum lines, more aerial patrols, and stricter rules around spearfishing in known shark hotspots. Others argue for better education and personal safety devices for divers. Spear fishers themselves are divided — some refuse to stop, citing their deep connection to the ocean, while others admit the risk now feels too high.

Rottnest Island, a beloved tourist destination just off Perth, has always been considered relatively safe. But this attack, so close to shore and in an area popular with divers and snorkellers, has shattered that sense of security. Local authorities have increased patrols and issued fresh warnings, but many feel it’s too little, too late for Steven’s family.

As the Mattaboni family prepares to say their final goodbyes, the friends who fought so hard to save Steven continue to grapple with survivor’s guilt. One told reporters through tears: “We did everything we could. We swam as fast as we could. But it was just too fast. The shark was gone as quickly as it came, and Steven was gone with it.”

Their desperate battle in the water has become a symbol of mateship and courage in the face of unimaginable horror. Yet it also highlights the brutal truth of the ocean: no matter how experienced or careful you are, sometimes nature wins in seconds.

Steven Mattaboni died doing what he loved — surrounded by the ocean he respected and the friends he cherished. His final moments, captured in that 27-second call and in the memories of those who fought to save him, will stay with all who hear them.

For Shirene and the girls left behind, the pain is unimaginable. A loving husband and father taken in the blink of an eye. A family’s future torn apart by a predator that showed no mercy.

Western Australia mourns yet another life claimed by the sea. But this time, the horror is compounded by the knowledge of how quickly it all happened — and how powerless even the bravest friends were to stop it.

The ocean took Steven Mattaboni too soon. His friends’ desperate screams, his wife’s final phone call, and the love he left behind will ensure he is never forgotten.

In the end, it really was too fast.