Historical Shark Attacks In Northern Territory, Australia

The beaches in the Northern Territory of Australia boast stunning landscapes and diverse natural beauty.

From the rugged cliffs to the turquoise waters and pristine shorelines, each beach offers a unique experience.

Notable locations include India Beach in Darwin, renowned for its beautiful sunsets and bustling markets, and the untouched beaches along the Arnhem Land coastline.

Visitors will be captivated by the natural beauty of these beaches.

One distinctive feature of Northern Territory beaches is the presence of marine life, including sharks.

Though shark encounters are rare and typically occur in deeper waters, it's important for beach visitors to be mindful of their surroundings and adhere to safety guidelines.

Many beaches have designated swimming areas monitored for shark activity to ensure the safety of swimmers and surfers.

Whether you're looking for a peaceful day by the sea or an adventurous surf, Northern Territory beaches promise an unforgettable experience surrounded by breathtaking scenery and untamed nature.

Understanding our data at Northern Territory

In our comprehensive overview of northern territory, the data presented in this article is compiled from a variety of public sources, providing a consolidated view of shark encounters by beach.

As you explore the data, it is important to note that while we have organized the information by specific areas, neighboring areas may also have their own detailed posts.

We encourage you to utilize the search function on our website to discover unique posts that may pertain to nearby locations.

Given the unpredictable and often chaotic circumstances surrounding shark attacks, some of the details within our tables have been inferred post-incident.

This is a common practice in the documentation of such events, due to factors like the rapid response required at the scene and the retrospective nature of assembling such data.

Our aim is to offer a resource that not only informs but also enhances awareness and safety practices for all who venture into the marine environment.

As you navigate through the information, we hope it serves as a reminder of the respect and caution that our florida beaches command.

Recorded Attack #1

Area	Northern Territory
Location	Groote Eylandt
Date	2018-09-28
Year	2018
Type	Unprovoked
Country	Australia
Activity	N/A
Name	Male
Sex	M
Age	17.0
Injury	Knee Bitten
Fatal	N
Time	Afternoon
Species	Bull Shark

Recorded Attack #2

Area	Northern Territory
Location	Between Cape Hotham & Darwin (50 Miles From Darwin)
Date	1936-03-04
Year	1936
Type	Watercraft
Country	Australia
Activity	Rowing
Name	Dinghy, Occupants: Aborigine & Lighthouse Keeper
Sex	N/A
Age	N/A
Injury	No Injury To Occupants, Shark Almost Wrenched Oar From Aborigine
Fatal	N
Time	N/A
Species	N/A

Recorded Attack #3

Area	Northern Territory
Location	Stokes Hill Wharf, Darwin
Date	1961-01-06
Year	1961
Type	Provoked
Country	Australia
Activity	Fishing
Name	Arthur Hopkins
Sex	M
Age	N/A
Injury	Finger Bitten By Hooked Shark Provoked Incident
Fatal	N
Time	N/A
Species	Hammerhead Shark, 1.8 M [6']

Recorded Attack #4

Area	Northern Territory
Location	Goulburn Island
Date	1950-11-29
Year	1950
Type	Provoked
Country	Australia
Activity	Diving
Name	Irrwala
Sex	M
Age	17
Injury	Minor Injury To Hand And Groin From Shark Caught On His Fishing Spear Provoked Incident
Fatal	N
Time	N/A
Species	2' Shark

Recorded Attack #5

Area	Northern Territory
Location	Elcho Island
Date	1937-07-16
Year	1937
Type	Unprovoked
Country	Australia
Activity	Pearl Diving
Name	A Japanese Hard Hat Diver
Sex	M
Age	N/A
Injury	Fatal
Fatal	Y
Time	N/A
Species	N/A

Recorded Attack #6

Area	Northern Territory
Location	Groote Eylandt
Date	2019-02-10
Year	2019
Type	Unprovoked
Country	Australia
Activity	Spearfishing
Name	Karl Waters
Sex	M
Age	25.0
Injury	Right Forearm Bitten
Fatal	N
Time	N/A
Species	Reef Shark,

Recorded Attack #7

Area	Northern Territory
Location	Mornington Island, Gulf Of Carpentaria
Date	1947-10-28
Year	1947
Type	Unprovoked
Country	Australia
Activity	Fishing In Waist-Deep Water
Name	Dan, An Aboriginal
Sex	M
Age	N/A
Injury	Kneecap Removed
Fatal	N
Time	N/A
Species	N/A

Recorded Attack #8

Area	Northern Territory
Location	Darwin
Date	2008-10-12
Year	2008
Type	Provoked
Country	Australia
Activity	Fishing
Name	Geoff Johnson
Sex	M
Age	50
Injury	Right Leg Injured By Hook And Hooked Shark Provoked Incident
Fatal	N
Time	N/A
Species	Reef Shark, 1.8M

Recorded Attack #9

Area	Northern Territory
Location	Bremer Island
Date	2005-04-16
Year	2005
Type	Unprovoked
Country	Australia
Activity	Spearfishing
Name	Clayton Deane
Sex	M
Age	20
Injury	Minor Cuts Above His Right Eye
Fatal	N
Time	N/A
Species	2 M [6.75'] Copper Shark

Recorded Attack #10

Area	Northern Territory
Location	Darwin
Date	1940-12-10
Year	1940
Type	Provoked
Country	Australia
Activity	Collecting Fish In Military Trap When Bitten By Captured Shark That Had Been Shot By Soldiers With Garten
Name	Private. Michael Garten
Sex	M
Age	N/A
Injury	Leg Severely Lacerated Provoked Incident
Fatal	N
Time	N/A
Species	N/A

Recorded Attack #11

Area	Northern Territory
Location	The Pearling Beds
Date	1883-02-25
Year	1883
Type	Unprovoked
Country	Australia
Activity	Diving
Name	Male
Sex	M
Age	N/A
Injury	Fatal
Fatal	Y
Time	N/A
Species	N/A

Recorded Attack #12

Area	Northern Territory
Location	Nhulunbuy
Date	2003-07-26
Year	2003
Type	Unprovoked
Country	Australia
Activity	Surf Skiing
Name	Martin Gunda
Sex	M
Age	37
Injury	No Injury, Flung Into Water When Shark Bit Rudder Of Ski
Fatal	N
Time	N/A
Species	N/A

Recorded Attack #13

Area	Northern Territory
Location	Arnhem Land
Date	1932-12-11
Year	1932
Type	Unprovoked
Country	Australia
Activity	N/A
Name	N/A
Sex	M
Age	N/A
Injury	Leg Bitten
Fatal	N
Time	N/A
Species	N/A

Recorded Attack #14

Area	Northern Territory
Location	Edith Falls
Date	1989-10-29
Year	1989
Type	Unprovoked
Country	Australia
Activity	Swimming
Name	Christine Kaesler
Sex	F
Age	31
Injury	Puncture Marks To Right Calf
Fatal	N
Time	N/A
Species	N/A

Recorded Attack #15

Area	Northern Territory
Location	Darwin Harbour
Date	1966-08-28
Year	1966
Type	Watercraft
Country	Australia
Activity	N/A
Name	Catamaran, Occupant: Neil Fowler
Sex	M
Age	N/A
Injury	No Injury To Occupant. Shark Struck Vessel, Jamming Centreboard
Fatal	N
Time	N/A
Species	N/A

Recorded Attack #16

Area	Northern Territory
Location	Redcliff, Cobourg Peninsula
Date	1934-10-09
Year	1934
Type	Unprovoked
Country	Australia
Activity	Bathing
Name	Aboriginal Woman
Sex	F
Age	38
Injury	Fatal
Fatal	Y
Time	N/A
Species	N/A

Recorded Attack #17

Area	Northern Territory
Location	Gove Peninsula Near Darwin
Date	1989-12-03
Year	1989
Type	Unprovoked
Country	Australia
Activity	N/A
Name	Ryan Johnson
Sex	M
Age	17
Injury	No Details, Recovering In Darwin Hospital
Fatal	Unknown
Time	N/A
Species	Tiger Shark, 2M

Recorded Attack #18

Area	Northern Territory
Location	Darwin
Date	1919-11-18
Year	1919
Type	Unprovoked
Country	Australia
Activity	Sitting In A Boat
Name	A Sailor
Sex	M
Age	N/A
Injury	Lacerations To Buttocks
Fatal	N
Time	N/A
Species	N/A

Recorded Attack #19

Area	Northern Territory
Location	Darwin Harbour
Date	1947-07-24
Year	1947
Type	Unprovoked
Country	Australia
Activity	Diving
Name	A.S. Festing
Sex	M
Age	N/A
Injury	Suit Ripped
Fatal	N
Time	N/A
Species	Most Likely, A Small Shark

Recorded Attack #20

Area	Northern Territory
Location	Liverpool River
Date	1938-03-08
Year	1938
Type	Unprovoked
Country	Australia
Activity	Canoe Capsized By Shark
Name	Aboriginal Male
Sex	M
Age	N/A
Injury	Leg Severed, But Survived
Fatal	N
Time	N/A
Species	N/A

Recorded Attack #21

Area	Northern Territory
Location	Gulf Of Carpenteria
Date	1999-01-03
Year	1999
Type	Invalid
Country	Australia
Activity	Fishing
Name	Donna Turcotte
Sex	F
Age	37
Injury	Cut Foot, But Injury Caused By Fishing Line, Not The Shark
Fatal	Unknown
Time	N/A
Species	Shark Involvement Not Confirmed

Recorded Attack #22

Area	Northern Territory
Location	Darwin
Date	1933-06-13
Year	1933
Type	Invalid
Country	Australia
Activity	Fishing
Name	Ah Cup
Sex	M
Age	N/A
Injury	No Injury, Shark Chased Him Ashore
Fatal	Unknown
Time	N/A
Species	Invalid

Recorded Attack #23

Area	Northern Territory
Location	Nightcliff Jetty, Darwin
Date	2019-09-28
Year	2019
Type	Provoked
Country	Australia
Activity	Fishing
Name	Jamie Hall
Sex	M
Age	45.0
Injury	Hooked Shark Bit His Leg. Provoked Incident
Fatal	N
Time	Afternoon
Species	1+ M Shark

Recorded Attack #24

Area	Northern Territory
Location	Off Nhulunbuy
Date	2018-11-18
Year	2018
Type	Unprovoked
Country	Australia
Activity	Spearfishing
Name	Sean Whitcombe
Sex	M
Age	17.0
Injury	Severe Lacerations To Left Arm And Right Leg
Fatal	N
Time	Before 10H00
Species	Reef Shark X 2

Recorded Attack #25

Area	Northern Territory
Location	Near Croker Island
Date	2008-09-15
Year	2008
Type	Provoked
Country	Australia
Activity	Swimming
Name	Quentin Gorrell
Sex	M
Age	43
Injury	Right Hand Lacerated By Netted Shark Provoked Incident
Fatal	N
Time	14H30
Species	Bronze Whaler Shark

Recorded Attack #26

Area	Northern Territory
Location	Darwin
Date	2002-05-07
Year	2002
Type	Provoked
Country	Australia
Activity	Fishing From Prawn Trawler
Name	Richard Morris
Sex	M
Age	20.0
Injury	Netted Shark Injured His Am & 6 Fingers Provoked Incident
Fatal	N
Time	N/A
Species	N/A

Recorded Attack #27

Area	Northern Territory
Location	The Pearling Beds
Date	1883-02-26
Year	1883
Type	Unprovoked
Country	Australia
Activity	Diving
Name	Male
Sex	M
Age	N/A
Injury	Arm Severed
Fatal	N
Time	N/A
Species	N/A

Check Out Some Of Our Other Shark Attack Posts

Here we have 5 posts going over some other nearby beaches where shark attacks have happened

Historical Shark Attacks In Bonin Islands, Japan
Historical Shark Attacks In Alicante Province, Spain
Historical Shark Attacks In Indian Harbor Beach
Historical Shark Attacks In Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta, Bangladesh
Historical Shark Attacks In Dog Island Beach