Sharks kill abalone diver in Australia

ADELAIDE, Australia, Feb. 18 (UPI) -- A professional abalone diver was killed by great white sharks while diving in South Australia, authorities said.

The shark attack Thursday on Peter Clarkson, 49, a cowrie shell expert, from Esperance, Western Australia, was witnessed by the skipper of an abalone fishing boat.

Clarkson was attacked by two sharks, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

The boat's skipper told ambulance officers: "I saw the beast come up and take him. There's no way he could have survived," News Limited reported.

There was no trace of Clarkson or his equipment.

Senior Constable Paul Noble said police, the SA State Emergency Service and local fisheries officers would be involved in a search for Clarkson's body.

"It will certainly involve the aircraft wing and they will conduct a ground search for the surrounding beaches," he said.

South Australia Abalone Industry Association President Jonas Woolford expressed concerns that a shark attack would be devastating to the organization's membership.

"This will have a major impact. It's extremely tragic to lose one of our own. It's very upsetting," Woolford told ABC radio.

He said shark attacks were rare in the industry.