In a tragedy that has shattered a young family and sent shockwaves through Australia’s coastal communities, 38-year-old Steven “Mattas” Mattaboni was killed in a brutal great white shark attack while spearfishing off Rottnest Island, Western Australia.

The devoted father of two young daughters was enjoying a day out with close friends at Horseshoe Reef, approximately one kilometre offshore, when the unimaginable unfolded on Saturday morning. According to accounts, Mattaboni’s young daughter, who was watching from a safe vantage point, spotted the massive predator approaching from a distance. In a moment of pure terror, the little girl screamed a desperate warning: “Look, there’s a shark!!” — “Shark there!” But her cries were lost in the wind and waves, unheard by those in the water. Seconds later, the shark struck.

The 4-metre (13-foot) great white targeted Mattaboni with devastating force, inflicting severe bites to his lower legs. Friends rushed to his aid, pulling him from the bloodied water and racing him to shore in a frantic bid to save his life. Emergency services performed heroic efforts, but Mattaboni succumbed to his injuries shortly after reaching medical help.

Known affectionately as “Mattas” to his mates, Steven was more than just an avid spearfisher and surveyor — he was a fiercely loyal husband and a doting father. His wife, Shirene Mattaboni, a clinical nurse specialist, released a heartbreaking statement describing him as a “one-of-a-kind gentleman” whose smile could light up any room. The couple shared two beautiful daughters — one turning three next month and a four-month-old baby girl. “Our hearts are irrevocably broken,” Shirene wrote. “Steven was a devoted father… the world has lost a truly genuine soul, and our daughters have lost an incredible dad far too soon.”

The ocean was Mattaboni’s passion. Friends recall him as someone who lived and breathed the sea, often balancing his love for spearfishing with his responsibilities as a family man and competitive Australian Rules footballer for Kingsley Football Club. Tributes have poured in from teammates and the local community, remembering a man full of life, generosity, and unwavering loyalty.

Rottnest Island, a popular tourist destination near Perth, is no stranger to marine beauty — but also carries the raw power of the ocean. This latest incident has reignited urgent conversations about shark safety, beach monitoring, and the unpredictable risks faced by those who venture into Western Australian waters. While shark attacks remain statistically rare, their sudden and ferocious nature leaves lasting scars on families and communities.

As the Mattaboni family grapples with unimaginable grief, the image of a small girl’s frantic warning echoing unheard across the waves has become a haunting symbol of this tragedy. In the silence that follows, one can almost hear the desperate, tiny voice calling out beneath the vast, unforgiving ocean — a final, futile cry for a father who will never return home.