Shark attack victim Steven Payne was a competent surfer and talented sportsman. Photo: supplied.
Wharton Beach shark attack victim Steven Payne decided not to wear his shark deterrent device before entering the water, according to remarks read in the Coroner’s court on Tuesday.
The 37-year-old was on a six-month trip around Australia’s west with his wife Catherine Birch and their dog, Poppy, when they visited the beach on March 10.
The report said the couple both owned shark deterrent devices but said they decided it was safe to enter the water in Esperance without them.
Mr Payne and Ms Birch had just travelled through South Australia and had visited Granites Beach a couple of days earlier, though they did not enter the water because they were aware of a fatal shark attack at the location two months prior.
At Wharton Beach the report said they saw several surfers in the crystal-clear water when Mr Payne entered at around 10.25am.
The report said Mr Payne, who was a competent surfer, had been riding the inconsistent waves for 90 minutes before the attack which happened about 60 metres offshore.
Two other surfers were in the water at the time.
A tourist’s drone captured footage of a 3.2 -3.5 metre shark and a man losing blood before being dragged under water.
Mr Payne’s body was never recovered but a piece of shredded wetsuit and a piece of foam believed to be from his board were found on the beach during the initial search, while more of his wetsuit and part of his surf hat were discovered on the beach the next day.
DNA swabs from Mr Payne’s damaged 5’10” surfboard returned a 100 per cent match to a Great White Shark.
The report said Mr Payne could not have survived the injuries he sustained.
New Zealand-born Mr Payne was described as a fit and healthy “gentle giant” and a talented sportsman.
He developed his passion for surfing in his university days while he completed an honours degree in Commerce.
Mr Payne moved to Sydney in 2011 but spent time living overseas in London and later in Namibia where he helped the local government develop security and IT systems.
The couple relocated to Melbourne before settling near Geelong in 2018 where he became a volunteer firefighter and a keen touch footy player.
Mr Payne and Ms Birch had also started open water swimming.
On the day of the tragedy, Ms Birch was onshore reading her book and looking after their dog.
The report said she witnessed a commotion in the water but it took her a moment to realise it was a shark attack.
It said she ran to the shoreline and shouted to alert others but she was unaware her husband was the victim.
The report said that she soon realised it was where she had last seen Payne and it was then she noticed his hat and blue and black wetsuit. She knew he had not survived.
The coroner’s court heard the opening address by Counsel Assisting on the circumstances surrounding Mr Payne’s death.
The coroner has not delivered the findings yet.
