Wife's heartbreaking tribute after young dad killed in horror shark attack off Rottnest Island

Published: 04:18, 17 May 2026 | Updated: 04:27, 17 May 2026 A young father killed in a devastating great white shark attack off Rottnest Island near Perth has been remembered by loved ones as a 'devoted' dad. Steven Mattaboni, 38, was attacked while spearfishing with friends on Saturday morning offshore from Horseshoe Reef near Geordie Bay. While he was on the surface of the water, he was attacked by a shark at about 10am. His friends battled to save his life, performing CPR as they raced him to Geordie Bay by boat, where paramedics were waiting, but he died despite their efforts.  Mattaboni's wife Shirene issued a heartbreaking statement confirming the news.  'Our hearts are irrevocably broken by the loss of Steven, known affectionately to his mates as Mattas,' she said. 'Steven was a devoted father to our two beautiful daughters - one who turns three next month and our four-month-old baby. 'An avid fisherman and spearfisherman, who lived and breathed the ocean, he was always in tune with the sea. Steven Mattaboni, 38, was attacked while spearfishing with friends on Saturday morning He has been remembered by loved ones as a devoted dad of two 'He was fiercely loyal, endlessly generous, and the kind of man who would give you the shirt off his back. 'The world has lost a truly one-of-a-kind gentleman, and our daughters have lost an incredible father far too soon. 'We extend our deepest, most sincere gratitude to the emergency services and first responders who worked so tirelessly to save him. 'As we try to navigate this incomprehensible loss and grieve the extraordinary man we loved so much, we respectfully ask the media and the public for privacy during this incredibly difficult time.'  No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.