Yallingup: Shark alert issued for The Lagoon, man bitten by reported 1m wobbegong shark

A swimmer has been bitten by a shark at a popular beach in the South West days after a fatal shark attack near Esperance.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development said a man of unknown age was bitten by a “reported 1m wobbegong shark” in waters around The Lagoon in Yallingup about 6.45am.

A St John WA spokesman said they had not been called to the area.

DPIRD was alerted to the bite incident about 9.40am before a shark warning was issued a short time later.

“Take additional caution in the Yallingup area,” the alert said.

“DPIRD officers along with staff from other agencies will continue to monitor the situation.”

It comes after Steven Payne was fatally killed while surfing by a shark, suspected to be a great white, at Wharton Beach, Condingup, after midday on Monday.

He was five weeks into a six-month caravan holiday with his partner and dog when he was killed.

The 37-year-old from Geelong was in the water just 50m from the shore when the shark attacked and killed him in front of his partner.

There has been no sign of Mr Payne since.

The beach is about an hour’s drive from Esperance. It has since reopened.

Mr Payne’s family said he and his partner were on a trip of a lifetime, caravaning around Western Australia. His partner tragically witnessed the attack.

“Steve and his partner had been together for 12 years and adopted their adored dog, Poppy, seven years ago,” the family said.