Daughter sees father killed in great white shark attack in Tasmania

A man has been killed by a great white shark while diving for scallops with his daughter in Tasmania.

The attack happened on the east coast between Lachlan Island and Maria Island near the town of Triabunna on Saturday morning.

Inspector David Wiss from Tasmania Police said the man, in his late 40s, and his daughter were diving from a small aluminium dinghy at about 8.00am when the attack happened.

See also: World's worst shark attacks

Speaking to Abc.net.au, he said: "My understanding is the daughter returned to the boat and the father returned to get some more scallops.

"He did not return to the surface.

"His daughter became worried and went down and checked on her father."

The woman, in her 20s, "saw a very large shark and she saw her father being attacked by the shark".

Wiss added: "She immediately returned to the surface where she raised the alarm through setting off a flare and also by making an emergency phone call."

The Guardian reports that fishermen nearby responded to the flare. Wiss added: "They pulled up the (man) using the air hose that he was attached to, but unfortunately he was fatally injured."

He described that incident as "deeply traumatic" for the daughter.

The local community is reportedly shocked and "devastated".

The last fatal shark attack in Tasmania occurred 22 years ago near Tenth Island off the state's north coast.

The news comes just days after Australian pro surfer Mick Fanning miraculously escaped injury when a great white shark attacked him on live TV during J-Bay Open surf event in South Africa.

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