The 35-year-old was attacked ​on Saturday morning while spearfishing with family ​off the state’s south coast at Michaelmas ⁠Island, close to the town of Albany, ​about 388 km south of the state capital ​Perth, police said.

He was taken ashore, where he was treated by paramedics but died of his injuries.

A 4.5 ​metre shark, of an unknown species, ​was spotted by a member of the public near ‌Michaelmas ⁠Island, a nature reserve that receives few visitors, on Saturday, state authorities said.

On May 24, a 39-year-old man died after being attacked by a ​shark while ​fishing on ⁠the Great Barrier Reef.

The death followed that of a 38-year-old mauled ​off an island near Perth 10 days ​earlier.

There ⁠are around 20 shark attacks in Australia every year, but the vast majority are not ⁠fatal, ​according to data from conservation ​groups. Far more people drown on the country’s beaches.