Cairns dad named as shark attack victim
A shark attack victim who was mauled in front of his mates has been identified as a much-loved Cairns father.
Michael Jensz, 39, a keen spearfisher and hunter, was enjoying his lifelong passion with some friends off the Far North Queensland coast on Sunday.
Jensz’s three friends reportedly watched on helplessly as he was attacked at Kennedy Shoal, a submerged reef some distance from Tully Heads.
The shoal is popular for recreational fishing and diving, off the Cassowary Coast.
The Cairns Post reports Jensz was believed to have been attacked by a bull shark, a species that locals say has become a problem in the area.
He is survived by his children and wife Lisa.
Michael Jensz and wife Lisa on a hunting trip. Photo: Instagram
Friends and family rallied around Jensz’s partner at their home in the Cairns suburb of Mount Sheridan on Monday, the Cairns Post reports.
You might like
Following his death, commercial fishermen reportedly spoke out about a “mongrel” shark population that was becoming an escalating problem, linked to reduced catch quotas and licensed trawlers.
Emergency services were called to Hull River Heads boat ramp, about 160 kilometres south of Cairns, shortly before noon on Sunday.
Police said Jensz was attacked while in the water. He was retrieved by someone with him, who helped bring him back onboard a private vessel.
By the time their boat had returned to the boat ramp, Jensz was declared dead.
“This is a tragic incident for everyone involved, and we will continue to provide support to the family and those who were on board with him,” Queensland Police Inspector Elaine Burns said on Sunday.
“That’s quite a terrifying thing to see happen right in front of you.”
Police said investigators would work with Queensland’s Department of Environment and Science to try to identify the shark species involved.
Michael Jensz had a lifelong love of the outdoors. Photo: 9News
Commercial fishing operator Gererd Pike was working about six nautical miles away when the attack occurred.
He said sharks had become increasingly aggressive and numerous along much of the coastline due to restrictions on catching large sharks.
Stay informed, daily
“We had at least six sharks tearing into a mackerel at one point,” Pike said.
“They’re constantly active on the reef and some days it’s beyond the point of fishing.”
Pike said local fishermen and residents were shocked by news of the fatal attack.
“I’ve had some gnarly calls on that reef in the past, definitely in the last 20 years,” he said.
“It’s becoming a real problem.”
Sunday’s death came just over a week after father-of-two Steven “Mattas” Mattaboni died in a shark attack in Western Australia.
Mattaboni was diving at Horseshoe Reef near Rottnest Island on May 16 when attacked.
In October, a 14-year-old boy was critically injured in a shark attack near Thursday Island, in far north Queensland.
He was bitten on the stomach while fishing with friends near Cook Esplanade, off the nation’s northernmost tip.
In February 2025, 17-year-old Charlize Zmuda died after being bitten by a shark while swimming off Woorim Beach at Bribie Island, in Queensland’s south.
It follows a spate of fatal shark attacks along NSW’s coast.
Schoolboy Nico Antic, 13, died a week after being bitten on his legs near a popular swimming spot at Vaucluse, in Sydney’s east, in January.
Swiss tourist Livia Mulheim, 25, was killed by a shark in November while swimming at a Kylies Beach on NSW’s mid-north coast.
Surfer Mercury Psillakis, 57, was fatally bitten by a shark at Sydney’s Long Reef beach in September.
-with AAP
Want to see more stories from InDaily Qld in your Google search results?
- Click here to set InDaily Qld as a preferred source.
- Tick the box next to "InDaily Qld". That's it.
