Tag Archives: oceania

Father-of-two named as victim of Rottnest shark attack

The man killed in a shark attack while spearfishing off Rottnest Island has been identified as father-of-two Steven Mattaboni.

The 38-year-old died on Saturday after he was attacked by what's believed to be a white shark near Horseshoe Reef, off the island near Perth.

Mattaboni, from Perth, had been in the water with friends when the shark attacked about 20 metres from their boat.

READ MORE: Beaches remain open on Rottnest Island after man killed in shark attack

Perth father-of-two Steven Mattaboni died in a shark attack while spearfishing near Rottnest Island on Saturday morning.

His mates pulled him on board and rushed him to the nearest jetty at Geordie Bay as paramedics prepared to respond.

Despite CPR from his friends and emergency crews, he could not be saved.

"His friends have actually witnessed the horrific event," Sergeant Michael Wear said on Saturday.

"The victim was on the surface at the time, about 20 metres away from the vessel."

Perth father-of-two Steven Mattaboni died in a shark attack while spearfishing near Rottnest Island on Saturday morning.

"Certainly quite horrific scenes for all involved, and all emergency services that were there did a fantastic job."

Authorities said Mattaboni suffered serious injuries to both lower legs.

Surf Life Saving WA later confirmed a five-metre white shark was seen about 80 metres offshore on Sunday morning, as patrols continued around the island.

A man in his 30s is in a critical condition after a suspected white shark attack on Rottnest Island near Perth. A St John WA ambulance spokesperson said emergency services were called to the scene off Geordie Bay at 10am (local time) today.A rescue helicopter, paramedics and police are at the scene.Perth father-of-two Steven Mattaboni died in a shark attack while spearfishing near Rottnest Island on Saturday morning.

Rottnest Island beaches have remained open following the attack, with shark experts maintaining that the overall risk to swimmers and surfers remains low.

Dr Daryl McPhee told Today the incident occurred a considerable distance offshore.

"I'd be more concerned if the bite occurred right on the beach, but its a long way off shore," he said.

The island, a popular tourist destination off Perth known for its beaches and quokka population, can be reached by ferry from the mainland.

Perth father-of-two Steven Mattaboni died in a shark attack while spearfishing near Rottnest Island on Saturday morning.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development has been notified and is working with local authorities following the fatal attack.

Australia recorded the highest number of fatal shark attacks in the world last year, according to figures released by the International Shark Attack File in February.

Five people died in shark attacks in Australian waters in 2025, with great white sharks linked to several of the incidents.

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Qantas flight diverted after passenger reportedly bites crew member

A man has been banned from all Qantas flights after allegedly biting a crew member on a flight from Melbourne to the United States, forcing the flight to divert to Tahiti.

The plane was forced to land in Papeete, Tahiti, where local authorities came on board the aircraft and arrested the passenger.

The plane was refuelled and able to complete its journey to Dallas, while the passenger has been banned from all Qantas Group flights, which includes Jetstar.

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It's understood the incident occurred aboard flight QF21, an 18-hour journey, with a screen in the video indicating there were still nearly 11 hours left of the journey at the time of the disruption.

Fellow passengers reportedly rushed to assist the airline crew during the confrontation, and no serious injuries were caused.

Segments of the apparent exchange were caught on camera by comedian Mike Goldstein, who was on the flight to Dallas-Fort Worth and shared a video on Instagram.

His video showed a passenger emerging from a bathroom and arguing with flight attendants about his behaviour.

The flight, bound for Dallas in the United States, was forced to divert in Papeete in Tahiti.

The passenger was stumbling, slurring his words, and repeatedly swearing at crew members and other passengers.

"There's kids around everywhere and you're acting immature," one flight attendant appeared to tell the passenger.

"You have to behave yourself, you're on a plane."

The passenger expressed some confusion at the fact that he was on a plane, and asked one flight attendant if he was "smoking any weed".

"I was just about to walk out for a cigarette," the passenger said.

UPDATE: Beaches remain open on Rottnest Island after man killed in 'horrific' shark attack

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Goldstein's video shows the passenger appearing to become more aggressive when he is told to go to the back of the plane.

According to a post on X by Air Nav Radar, the passenger allegedly bit a crew member, though this has not been confirmed by the airline or by authorities.

"The safety of our customers and our crew is our number one priority," a Qantas spokesperson told 9News.com.au.

"We have zero tolerance for disruptive or threatening behaviour on our flights."

The flight ultimately arrived at its Dallas-Fort Worth destination several hours late on Saturday morning Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST).

The Sydney Morning Herald has reported that the passenger involved is not an Australian national.

The Australian Federal Police have been contacted for comment.

The mid-air disruption follows a string of recent high-profile incidents on domestic routes. 

Just last month, a 45-year-old Queanbeyan man was charged by the AFP after allegedly kicking a flight attendant and biting a fellow passenger on a Canberra to Perth flight. 

Similarly, in January, a 52-year-old Canberra woman was escorted off a flight at Perth Airport and charged after allegedly behaving erratically and forcibly grabbing a flight attendant's arm and head.

At the time of the previous incidents, AFP Acting Superintendent Hayley Faithfull reiterated that the agency works closely with airline partners to intervene in cases of aggressive or antisocial behaviour that poses a direct threat to crew or public safety.

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City of millions on edge as rival protests take over the streets

A massive police presence has swarmed on the streets of London to ensure that two rival marches, attended by tens of thousands, and the climax of the FA Cup unfolded without major incident.

In what's been described as a "significant public order policing operation," London's Metropolitan Police deployed at least 4000 officers, armoured vehicles, horses, dogs, drones and helicopters.

Most concerns focused on central London, where police sought to prevent any interaction between the two major demonstrations.

Watch the video above.

READ MORE: Beaches remain open on Rottnest Island after man killed in shark attack

One march was organised by far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson.

The other was the annual Nakba Day demonstration, which commemorates the 1948 exodus of around 700,000 Palestinians from what is now Israel.

Police remain on guard for any splinter groups coming into contact, and for any trouble following the conclusion of the FA Cup final, which was attended by more than 83,000 fans at Wembley Stadium.

LONDON, ENGLAND -MAY 15: People take part in the 78th Nakba Anniversary March on May 16, 2026 in London, England. Today is the 78th Nakba anniversary, demanding an end to British support for Israel. The Metropolitan Police have imposed Public Order Act conditions, restricting the protest to Pall Mall to separate it from a concurrent far-right rally on Whitehall. (Photo by Brook Mitchell/Getty Images)

As of this morning, police said 43 people were arrested for a variety of offences. A further 22 were arrested at the FA Cup final, where Manchester City beat Chelsea.

Police said four officers were assaulted, none seriously, while a further six were subjected to hate crime offences.

The marches took place at a particularly radicalised time in British politics, with the extremes on the right and the left advancing across the UK in last week's elections.

Protesters are driven by a range of grievances. Many are angry about the number of would-be asylum-seekers making the dangerous crossing across the English Channel from the French coast to the UK in small boats.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 16: People take part in the "Unite the Kingdom" rally on May 16, 2026 in London, England. The far-right "Unite the Kingdom" rally, organised by Tommy Robinson is to be held under strict Public Order Act conditions with demonstrators legally confined to a specific south-bound corridor from Kingsway to Parliament Square between late morning and early evening. To prevent clashes with a concurrent counter-protest, the Metropolitan Police has launched an unprecedented £4.5 milli

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Others are protesting Israel's actions in Gaza, which have devastated the Palestinian enclave and, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, killed more than 72,700 people.

Prosecutors have been told to consider whether protest placards, banners and chants viewed on social media may amount to offences of stirring up hatred during the rallies.

"This is not about restricting free speech," said the Crown Prosecution Service's director, Stephen Parkinson. "It is about preventing hate crime and protecting the public, particularly at a time of heightened tensions."

The British government also blocked 11 foreign nationals from entering the country for the "Unite the Kingdom" rally.

Right-wing figures claiming to have been barred include Polish politician Dominik Tarczynski, Belgian politician Filip Dewinter, anti-Islam commentator Valentina Gomez and Dutch activist Eva Vlaardingerbroek.

Manchester City players pose with the winner's trophy after the English FA Cup final soccer match between Chelsea and Manchester City in London, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Richard Pelham)

"We will block those coming into the UK who seek to incite hatred and violence," said Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is fighting for his political life following those disastrous election results earlier this month.

"For anyone who sets out to wreak havoc on our streets, to intimidate or threaten anyone, you can expect to face the full force of the law."

On Friday, Starmer visited the Metropolitan Police command centre to discuss policing arrangements for the rallies alongside Met Commissioner Mark Rowley and London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

Live facial recognition will be used for the first time in a protest policing operation.

Cameras have been set up in the north London neighbourhood of Camden, which is not on the route of the "Unite the Kingdom" march but is expected to be used by many people attending the event.

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