Shock after death of University of Chester Lecturer in shark attack

Staff at the University of Chester say they're in shock after a former lecturer there was killed by a great white shark.

Published 6th Jun 2016

Staff at the University of Chester say they're in shock after a former lecturer there was killed by a great white shark.

It's believed 60-year-old Doreen Collyer, orginally from Neston had been diving northwest of Mindarie, a northern suburb of Perth on Sunday morning local time.

Police Inspector Danny Mulligan said her diving partner, believed to be aged in his 50s, felt "something go past him" when he was in the water.

"When he surfaced he saw a commotion in the water and then another boat (a fishing boat) arrived to pull him out of the water, and then it was noticed that the lady had suffered some severe and fatal injuries," he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

The man was able to get back into his own boat and pull the woman from the water but her wounds proved fatal, Mr Mulligan said.

Mrs Collyer and her husband moved over to Australia 5 years ago - before that she worked at the University of Chester.

Professor Annette McIntosh-Scott, from the University of Chester said "It's been very hard, we've emailed out to all staff, we're opening up a condolence card and we're opening a memorial collection as well for one of Doreen's favourite charities.

"The news has hit everyone hard - our key thoughts are with her family, friends and colleagues as well"

Shark attacks are rare, with 98 worldwide last year, according to the International Shark Attack Files.