Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Seventeen-year-old Laeticia Maree Brouwer died after a shark attack while surfing near Esperance, Western Australia, on 17 April 2017. In a public tribute, her family said they were heartbroken and found some comfort in knowing she had died doing something she loved.
What happened to Laeticia Maree Brouwer?
Brouwer, who was from Singleton near Mandurah, was surfing with her father at Kelp Beds, east of Wylie Bay and a few kilometres from Esperance. The attack happened at about 4 p.m. on Monday, 17 April 2017. Her mother and two sisters were watching from shore and called for help.
ABC News reported that her father brought her to shore and that she could not be saved. PerthNow reported that another surfer helped bring her ashore, a nurse provided first aid, and family members and others attempted CPR. St John Ambulance told ABC that paramedics arrived 19 minutes after they were called. Contemporary reports said Brouwer died at Esperance Hospital. ABC News, 18 April 2017; PerthNow, 18 April 2017.
What did her family say?
Family spokesman and uncle Steve Evans read a statement to reporters. ABC News quoted the family as saying:
#1 Best Overall
“Laeticia will be greatly missed by her family, friends and everyone who knew her.”
“We can take some comfort that Laeticia died doing something that she loved.”
“The ocean was her, and her family’s passion. Surfing was something that she treasured doing with her dad and her sisters.”
PerthNow separately quoted the family describing themselves as “terribly heartbroken and saddened by this tragic accident.”
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallWas the shark species identified?
The two contemporaneous reports cited here do not confirm a species. PerthNow said the recovered, damaged surfboard would be examined by Department of Fisheries scientists to determine what kind of shark was involved. The reports do not provide the result, so the species should not be treated as established.
What did officials say about the response?
ABC News reported that Esperance Police acting Senior Sergeant Ben Jeffes called the death “an absolute tragedy.” Paramedic Paul Gaughan said: “The people on the scene did everything right, people knew first aid and they really gave the young girl every possible chance under such dire circumstances for a positive outcome.” These are statements attributed in ABC’s report of 18 April 2017; they do not establish whether any particular intervention could have changed the outcome.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What were the beach closures, and what is the current local policy?
The immediate response in April 2017
PerthNow reported that Wylie Bay remained closed on 18 April 2017, with Department of Fisheries beach and water patrols, and that swimmers and surfers were told to stay out of the water for at least two days. Those details describe the response reported at the time, not present-day access conditions.
Shire policy published in February 2026
The Shire of Esperance’s POL 0064: Shark Hazard Response, version 4 (February 2026), says WA Police lead fatal shark-attack incidents and the Shire assists with beach-safety measures under the police Incident Controller’s direction. It states that a beach closed after a fatality will reopen 48 hours after the incident, with reopening considered in consultation with relevant agencies. The policy also encourages visitors to use government shark-activity information and describes warning and closure responses that vary with beach category and circumstances. This later policy does not establish what governed the 2017 response.
Best Value
How was the 2017 attack reported in context?
PerthNow’s 18 April 2017 report said 15 people had been killed by sharks in WA waters since 2000. That is a figure published in a 2017 news report, not a current total.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
